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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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 Horned Frogs defeated Ohio State in the first round before falling to Duke in the second round. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026 Last week, the Broncos defeated the Chargers 23-17 in Los Angeles. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

In the end, the defeat of the deal between the Khashoggis and the co-op didn’t come down to a board vote but a $100 million deposit that never materialized. — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 15 Oct. 2026 The Horned Frogs would love to deliver another frustrating defeat to its rivals, while also jump-starting their late season push. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defeat

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeat

Verb

For now, the study identifies a previously underappreciated part of the immune system that could help overcome one of SCLC’s most persistent defenses.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
But Gordon has emerged as Miami’s clear lead back, capable of overcoming a poor situation.

— Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of overcome

Noun

The study does not establish that every future change is irreversible or that Thwaites must accelerate toward total collapse.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
David Waldowski Laguna Woods The excuses for the Dodgers collapse flew off the page minutes after the last out of Game 4.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of collapse

Verb

Ward went on to join Ohio’s BalletMet and North Carolina Dance Theatre, mastering classical and neoclassical styles until his heart demanded a move beyond those orthodoxies.

— Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Complicating things is the current Administration, which has mastered the art of using those message-delivery systems to spread doubt and discontent and suspicion.

— Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of master

Noun

The arrests were related to the beating of a Washington Post photographer and an alleged assault on European diplomats, Israeli authorities said.

— Suheir Hashimeh, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026
The prosecutor argued the beatings basically never stopped, claiming footage showed nannies beating one child, then turning their violence toward any of the other toddlers who wept while watching.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of beating

Noun

The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Special-teams breakdowns — including a 70-yard kickoff return and two field-goal failures — played a big role in the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of failure

Verb

For founders sitting atop a mountain of stock, that beats selling shares, paying tax, and then giving away the cash.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The defense has exceeded expectations and continues to cement itself as a top-20, maybe even a top-15 defense, while the offense remains a disappointment, even after beating the Bears (4-2, 2-1).

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of beat

Noun

Even after the setback, young households remained wealthier than their counterparts were before the pandemic.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Embracing uncertainty does not mean ignoring danger, suppressing disappointment or insisting that every setback is positive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of setback

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“Defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeat. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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