Synonyms for defeat
- beating
- blow
- breakdown
- collapse
- debacle
- destruction
- drubbing
- embarrassment
- failure
- killing
- loss
- massacre
- rout
- setback
- thrashing
- triumph
- KO
- ambush
- annihilation
- break
- check
- conquest
- count
- discomfiture
- extermination
- fall
- lacing
- licking
- mastery
- paddling
- rebuff
- repulse
- reverse
- ruin
- scalping
- shellacking
- slaughter
- subjugation
- trap
- trashing
- trimming
- trouncing
- waxing
- whaling
- whipping
- whitewashing
- defeasance
- downthrow
- insuccess
- nonsuccess
- vanquishment
Antonyms for defeat
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR DEFEAT
Then there came upon him to reinforce this want a burning sense of defeat.
In my lifetime—in depression and in war—they have awaited our defeat.
You know what you have to expect from the Syracusans, if this last struggle should end in defeat.
Yes, they were wolves leaping at the throat of her father, and joying in the defeat of Lucretia.
Lucretia's defeat in the Handicap had increased his despondency.
This junction O'Neill was determined to defeat, and did defeat it;—but let us not anticipate.
She had a wicked delight in the defeat of his strategy which she could cleverly conceal.
Again Janet looked up, with defeat perching amid her freckles.
In his absence, Fitzpiers died, and this quite consoled him for his defeat.
She was not in harmony with the old man, and would do nothing to defeat my plan.
WORD ORIGIN
late 14c., from Anglo-French defeter, from Old French desfait, past participle of desfaire "to undo," from Vulgar Latin *diffacere "undo, destroy," from Latin dis- "un-, not" (see dis-) + facere "to do, perform" (see factitious). Original sense was of "bring ruination, cause destruction." Military sense of "conquer" is c.1600. Related: Defeated; defeating.