LOSING GROUND Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

losing ground

phrase

present participle of lose ground

as in retreating

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) We need a new strategy because we keep losing ground to the other team.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 losing ground But the battle against the temptation of price promotions is long and one that has had the industry continually losing ground. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 There have been broader concerns in France that the country's education system is losing ground to other countries and failing in its mission to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to move up the social ladder. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 The gap between imports and exports hit $100 billion in August, a sign that Trump is losing ground on a signature policy. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026 Polls show the party losing ground with those voters and facing unexpectedly tight contests across Texas, including in Paxton’s Senate race and several House districts. — Katherine Doyle, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Starbucks and Nike are losing ground to the likes of Luckin Coffee and Anta Sports. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Marketers continue investing in campaigns that are slowly losing ground because the data reaches them after the platform has changed course. — Matt Jayson, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The allegations, which Netanyahu denies, have energized his domestic opponents, some of whom are viewed more favorably in Abu Dhabi, ahead of critical Israeli elections next month; polls show the prime minister appears to be losing ground. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026 August had no shortage of turbulence for the market, but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each posted a gain for the month after losing ground in July and June. — Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for losing ground

giving way

Phrase

The first two lines in each stanza are about the promise of the season, before giving way to its end, showing the necessity of what came before in order for the next season to begin.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Here, the spice mingles with cardamom and ginger before giving way to earthy patchouli, papyrus, and creamy orris butter.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of giving way

Browse Nearby Words

losing

losing ground

losing heart

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Losing ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/losing%20ground. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of losing ground

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes