DEFEAT Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'defeat' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of defeat are conquer , overcome , overthrow , reduce , subdue , and vanquish . While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals. // the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

Q: When is 'conquer' a more appropriate choice than 'defeat'?

In some situations, the words conquer and defeat are roughly equivalent. However, conquer implies gaining mastery of. // Caesar conquered Gaul

Q: When could 'overcome' be used to replace 'defeat'?

While in some cases nearly identical to defeat , overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle. // overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

Q: When might 'overthrow' be a better fit than 'defeat'?

While the synonyms overthrow and defeat are close in meaning, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power. // violently overthrew the old regime

Q: When can 'reduce' be used instead of 'defeat'?

The meanings of reduce and defeat largely overlap; however, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender. // the city was reduced after a month-long siege

Q: Where would 'subdue' be a reasonable alternative to 'defeat'?

The words subdue and defeat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, subdue implies a defeating and suppression. // subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

Q: When would 'vanquish' be a good substitute for 'defeat'?

The synonyms vanquish and defeat are sometimes interchangeable, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering. // vanquished the enemy and ended the war

defeat 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈfēt

Definition of defeat

as in to overcome

to achieve a victory over they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

defeat

2 of 2

noun

as in loss

failure to win a contest sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in collapse

a falling short of one's goals truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb defeat differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of defeat are conquer, overcome, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When is conquer a more appropriate choice than defeat?

In some situations, the words conquer and defeat are roughly equivalent. However, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

When could overcome be used to replace defeat?

While in some cases nearly identical to defeat, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When might overthrow be a better fit than defeat?

While the synonyms overthrow and defeat are close in meaning, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When can reduce be used instead of defeat?

The meanings of reduce and defeat largely overlap; however, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

Where would subdue be a reasonable alternative to defeat?

The words subdue and defeat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for defeat?

The synonyms vanquish and defeat are sometimes interchangeable, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

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 defeat

Verb

The winner is the daughter of the late Alberto Fujimori, the former president whose government in the 1990s defeated the Shining Path extremist rebel group but also took an authoritarian turn. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 The Bicentennial year kicked off with Super Bowl X in January, when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Miami. — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Noun

Indeed, assistance – in terms of finances, arms and, eventually, soldiers – from France and Spain would make all the difference, allowing Washington and others to move from defeat to victory. — Sarah M.s. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness programs faced a shaky timeline, characterized by persistent legal roadblocks, which culminated in a 2023 Supreme Court defeat. — Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for defeat

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeat

Verb

The rookie point guard overcame early shooting struggles to lead all scorers with 25 points.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
The telecommunications giant’s fight to end landline service is playing out in the FCC and federal court, amid an underlying battle over how much power the agency has to overcome decisions by states.

— Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Definition of overcome

Noun

The congregation started to arrive at the usual time, about half an hour before Mass on a recent Saturday afternoon, the old church slowly filling with the descendants and caretakers of a place of great serenity but also great loss.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Fireflies are facing growing challenges from habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change and light pollution.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of loss

Noun

Vibrations from earth-moving equipment could have triggered further collapses, possibly dooming Gil — and his would-be rescuers.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Historians have devoted enormous attention to the collapse of the royal courts, the creation of state judiciaries, the drafting of new constitutions, and the construction of the legal institutions of the new republic.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of collapse

Verb

There’s a fleet of school supplies to amass, multiple schedules to master, and a lot of stress—both for my kiddos and on my end.

— Melissa Willets, Parents, 6 July 2026
Faculty across the country increasingly report spending more time teaching skills that many students once mastered before arriving on campus.

— Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of master

Noun

The woman told deputies that over three days she was repeatedly beaten, pistol-whipped and strangled into near unconsciousness before receiving yet another beating Sunday morning.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Jackson agreed to plead no contest to battery in May for the beating of professional wrestler Stuart Smith at a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy event in Sun Valley.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of beating

Noun

According to Castillo, one of the most significant failures has been the tendency to treat many squatter complaints as civil disputes rather than criminal investigations.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Spence also appears to be absorbing the blame for broader failures, with Thomas Tuchel’s touchline frustrations obvious and — for a player still establishing himself at this level — that scrutiny is unlikely to help.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of failure

Verb

Emanuel Sharp, Isaiah Stevens and Marquel Sutton led the way as the Kings rallied to beat the Golden State Warriors Blue 91-85 on Sunday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Egypt made its way to the round of 16 by beating Australia on penalties.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of beat

Noun

That is expected to be a setback to Hanwha Ocean, as the contract was estimated to be up to $100 billion over three decades, according to The Korea Times.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Bryant Vincent’s team has teased in each of his first two years in Monroe, starting 3-1 last season before the roof caved in with eight straight setbacks.

— Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of setback

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“Defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeat. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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