loss

noun

ˈlȯs How to pronounce loss (audio)
Definition of lossnext
1
as in absence
the act or an instance of not having or being able to find he was upset over the loss of his wedding ring

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2
as in victim
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed the platoon was able to accomplish its reconnaissance mission without any losses

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3
as in defeat
failure to win a contest we're discouraged by our loss on Friday, but we're training hard for next week's game nevertheless

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4
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened was determined to stay on the diet until he showed a loss of 10 pounds

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5
as in deprivation
the state of being robbed of something normally enjoyed her loss of sleep meant that she would have trouble concentrating at work the next day

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6
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the loss of the oil tanker was more significant than the loss of its cargo

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loss Reese was held to eight points, making only 2 of 12 shots from the field, and grabbed nine rebounds in the Atlanta Dream's 67-62 loss to the Golden State Valkyries that evened the series at 2-2. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Neither of those teams were ranked opponents, and both of the losses came in the state of Texas. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 MacBooks are simply better laptops in most regards, with minor losses in display quality and AI functionality. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 Through loss, displacement, uncertainty and the sometimes unbearable weight of impermanence, Altadena residents have endured. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loss
  1. absence
  2. victim
  3. defeat
  4. decrease
  5. deprivation
  6. destruction
  7. lack
  8. fatality
Noun
  • The absence of an endorsement was a setback for the Likud politician, who had billed his tight ties to the Republican president as a selling point for staying in power.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But in the absence of any federal rules, cities and states have been flexing their authority in an effort to bring order to some of the chaos.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of absence
Noun
  • The Baton Rouge Police Department identified the victims as 21-year-old Leah Fonte and 21-year-old Shane Hirstius, who were engaged.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has begun notifying victims impacted by a recent data breach of driver’s license and motor vehicle data, but not everyone whose information was stolen will receive an alert.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • Trump can’t let Iran turn a military defeat into a diplomatic victory.
    — , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After allocating about 8% of GDP to NEOM, once contract cancellations are included, the government has admitted a costly defeat.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat
Noun
  • Although the decrease in shot volume wasn’t quite as dramatic, Giddey went 1-for-10 from the field and scored only two points in Wednesday’s brutal beatdown by the Raptors.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Clippers have the largest decrease in the NBA in average age between their current roster and the group that was active for last year's season opener, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • Both were transferred to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit, where they were diagnosed with brain injuries due to oxygen deprivation.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
  • According to the indictment, detainees were subjected to electric shocks, simulated drowning, beatings, asphyxiation, sleep deprivation and threats against their relatives.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of deprivation
Noun
  • About 90% of the city was flooded ​following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, according to the White House.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The suspect, 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano of Stafford, Virginia, has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage, and felony injury to a monument, court records show.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • The demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • According to Kansas City Police Department data, the fatal crash is Kansas City’s 57th traffic fatality this year.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • His death appeared to be the first fatality involving a horse carriage in Central Park since the rides began.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fatality

Phrases Containing loss

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losing (to)
loss
losses
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Cite this Entry

“Loss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loss. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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