Synonyms for defeat

noun

1. A state of being worsted

   loss, failure, downfall, disappointment; see sense 2, disappointment 2, failure 1, loss 1.

2. Defeat in war

   repulse, reverse, rebuff, conquest, rout, overthrow, subjugation, subduing, vanquishment, destruction, breakdown, collapse, downfall, extermination, annihilation, crushing, check, trap, ambush, breakthrough, encirclement, withdrawal, pincer movement, setback, stalemate, ruin, blow, loss, fall, slaughter, butchery, massacre, debacle, Waterloo; see also sense 3; destruction 1.

   Antonyms triumph*, victory*, conquest.

3. Defeat in personal encounters and sport

   beating, whipping, thrashing, fall, count, drubbing, repulse, comedown, upset, frustration, checkmate, shutout, knockout, licking*, battering*, pasting*, trouncing*, walloping*, whaling*, thumping*, scalping*, trimming*, cropper*, black eye*, dud*, shellacking*, clobbering*, creaming*, slaughter*, massacre*, hiding*, whitewashing*, lacing*, KO*, no go*, the old one-two*; see also sense 2.

   Antonyms triumph*, victory*, success*.

verb

1. To get the better of another

   master, baffle, surmount, best, worst, undo, block, thwart, disconcert, frustrate, balk, spoil, nullify, neutralize, quell, subdue, overpower, crush, break, subjugate, vanquish, get the best of, triumph over, beat down, foil, outwit, puzzle, disappoint, contravene, circumvent, cross, checkmate, outargue, refute, outdo, overturn, rebut, expose, silence, overmatch, nonplus, counterplot, disprove, put an end to, invalidate, cast down, scatter to the winds, reduce to silence, be too much for, give the coup de gráce to, give a setback to, take the wind out of one's sails*, stump*, steamroller*, have by the short hairs*, lay by the heels*, cook one's goose*, put down*, euchre*; see also senses 2, 3; confute, win 1.

   Antonyms yield*, give up, concede.

2. To worst in war

   overcome, vanquish, conquer, rout, entrap, subdue, overrun, prevail over, overthrow, subjugate, crush, smash, drive off, discomfit, annihilate, overwhelm, scatter, repulse, halt, reduce, outflank, finish off, encircle, slaughter, butcher, outmaneuver, ambush, repel, demolish, parry, sack, bomb, torpedo, sink, shipwreck, drown, swamp, countermine, put to flight, split up, wipe out, decimate, obliterate, roll back, outgeneral, mop up*, chew up*, mow down*, trample in the dust*, trample under foot*, drive to the wall*; see also senses 1, 3; destroy 1, ravage.

   Antonyms yield*, give up, surrender.

3. To worst in sport or in personal combat

   beat, overpower, outplay, win, knock out, throw, floor, pummel, pound, flog, outhit, outrun, outjump, thrash, upset, edge out*, nose out*, shade*, lay low*, skin*, drub*, trim*, lick*, wallop*, trounce*, shellac*, whip*, cream*, clobber*, whomp*, zap*, clean up on*, beat up*, take*, KO*, scalp*, skin alive*, run roughshod over*, snooker*, put down*, take to the cleaners*, beat the socks off of*, beat the pants off of*, pulverize*, plow under*, smear*, massacre*, make mincemeat out of*, mop the floor with*, goose-egg*, hang a win on*, blank*, shut out*, skunk*, snow under*; see also senses 1, 2; beat 2.

   Antonyms suffer*, be defeated, fail.