Defeat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈfēt/ de·feat

Meaning & Definition of Defeat

Defeat (verb)

  1. to win victory over, beat
  2. frustrate
  3. nullify

Defeat (noun)

  1. frustration by nullification or by prevention of success
  2. an overthrow especially of an army in battle
  3. the loss of a contest

Defeat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to achieve a victory over

    "they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Defeat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. failure to win a contest

    "sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week"

    similar: beating, drubbing, licking, loss, lump, overthrow, plastering, rout, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping
    related: collapse, debacle, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, nonsuccess, setback, upset, lurch, shutout, washout, whitewash
    opposite: success, triumph, victory, win
    near: accomplishment, achievement, blowout, cakewalk, landslide, romp, runaway, sweep, walkaway, walkover

  2. a falling short of one's goals

    "truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown"

    similar: collapse, crash, cropper, failure, fizzle, nonachievement, nonsuccess
    related: futility, uselessness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, disappointment, letdown, setback
    opposite: accomplishment, achievement, success
    near: victory, win

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Defeat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Defeat:

British: do down
beat, best, conquer, dispatch, get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop, beating, drubbing, licking, loss, lump, overthrow, plastering, rout, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping, collapse, crash, cropper, failure

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Defeat

Words with the opposite meaning of Defeat:

lose (to), success, triumph, victory, win, accomplishment, achievement

Related Words for Defeat

sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip, annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke, snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax, whip, cap, excel

Near Antonyms of Defeat

fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out, blowout, cakewalk, landslide, romp, runaway, sweep, walkaway, walkover

Word Forms of Defeat

Inflections: defeated, defeating, defeats

Derived words: defeatable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Defeat

Middle English defeten, defaiten "to ruin, destroy, nullify," in part verbal derivative of defet "disfigured, null and void (in law)," borrowed from Anglo-French defait, defet, desfet, past participle of defaire, desfaire "to undo, put an end to, destroy, nullify," from de-, des- de- + faire "to do, make," going back to Latin facere; in part borrowed from Anglo-French defeter, derivative of defet fact

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Defeat

Words & Phrases Containing Defeat

defeat the purpose of, admit defeat, concede defeat, go down to defeat, in defeat, the jaws of defeat

Frequently Asked Questions about Defeat

What does "Defeat" mean?

"Defeat" means to win victory over, beat. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to win victory over, beat. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Defeat"?

Other words for "Defeat" include beat, best, conquer, dispatch, do down, get, get around and lick. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Defeat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Defeat"?

There are 117 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Defeat". Common alternatives include beat, best, conquer, dispatch, do down, get, get around, lick, master and overbear.

What is the opposite of "Defeat"?

Antonyms of "Defeat" include lose (to), success, triumph, victory, win, accomplishment and achievement. Near antonyms include fall, give up, go down and go under.

How do you use "Defeat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Defeat" in a sentence: "they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs"; "sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week"; "truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown".

Is "Defeat" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Defeat" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Defeat" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Defeat" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Defeat"?

"Defeat" is pronounced /di-ˈfēt/ and divided into syllables as de·feat.