LOST Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

lost 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlȯst

Definition of lost

as in missing

no longer possessed we searched all over the house for the lost keys

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lost

2 of 2

verb

past tense of lose

as in missed

to be unable to find or have at hand I always lose my keys

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as in dropped

to fail to win, gain, or obtain if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs

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as in fell

to undergo defeat she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens

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as in discarded

to get rid of as useless or unwanted we told the recent grad to lose the flashy shirts and dress conservatively for the job interview

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as in spent

to use up carelessly we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys

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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 lost

Adjective

The attraction between these two lost souls, both still mourning the loss of their respective spouses years ago, is evident. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 The mood is unworldly, perfect for a song about an insomniac dwelling on lost love through a dark night. — Marshall Gu, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

There have been years of public outcry, curatorial departures, and lost benefactors; Angelenos had grown proud of the original LACMA campus over time. — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 In the case of cashiers, about 200,600 jobs will be lost by 2035, according to Labor Department statistics. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lost

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lost

Adjective

There’s no indication that the latest disaster, which has killed more than 600 people and left around 3,000 more missing on both sides of the border, was linked to manmade development.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Approximately 100 Americans remain missing, while five have been rescued, the department said Saturday.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of missing

Verb

Right tackle Luke Goedeke tore his plantar fascia and suffered a severe foot contusion, and missed six games.

— Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Bell, a fourth-round draft pick after his record-breaking senior year at UConn, missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury but starred in his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the brand new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of missed

Verb

The Hornets dropped a 28-17 contest at Eastern Michigan last Saturday, a Mid-American Conference opener in which the defense led the way with a defensive touchdown and in limiting the Eagles to 69 yards rushing.

— Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Shoot days for digital productions rose 47% in the second quarter to 661 compared to the same period a year — even as the overall number of on-location shoot days dropped 13% during that period.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of dropped

Verb

Rincker, a German immigrant, was known for casting the bell that hung from the first Cook County Courthouse, which was felled by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Frightened that she may be plagued by the same mental illness that felled her mom, Gemma stubbornly refuses to believe anything is wrong.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

Potsherds discarded after an 11th-century feast at Etowah—an Indigenous city just north of what’s now Atlanta—contained traces of cacao, a raw ingredient of chocolate.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
The salad that goes with the peas was discarded due to this action.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of discarded

Verb

Steinem spent 11 days working undercover as a bunny in Manhattan's Playboy Club and documenting her experience.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Steinem spent her final years continuing to write, her representatives noted Thursday, including her forthcoming book An Unexpected Life.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of spent

Verb

Keeping your own copies can be helpful if a document is misplaced or later requested.

— Jason Phillips, Ascend Agency, 24 Aug. 2026
The Case That This Is Nothing One argument on the other side is that alarm over the new buyback program is misplaced because the operations are too small to matter.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of misplaced

Browse Nearby Words

losses

lost

lost ground

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Style

“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lost. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lost

adjective

verb

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