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1. Dictionary

   De·feat

   /dəˈfēt/

   

   verb

   • 1. win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat: "Arab armies defeated the Byzantine garrison" Similar beatconquerwin againstwin a victory overtriumph overprevail overget the better ofbestworstvanquishrouttrounceovercomeoverpoweroverthrowoverwhelmcrushquashbring someone to their kneesquellsubjugatesubduerepulseinformal:lickthrashhammerwhipwipe the floor withwalk all overgive someone a hidingtake to the cleanersblow out of the waterrun rings aroundmake mincemeat ofclobberpastepoundpulverizecrucifymurdermassacreslaughterdemolishdrubgive someone a drubbingcanezapflattenturn inside outtankpwnstuffmarmalizeblow outcreamshellacskunkslamownOpposite lose to
   • ▪ prevent (someone) from achieving an aim: "she was defeated by the last steep hill" Similar thwartblockfrustratepreventfoilbalkruinput a stop toscotchobviateforestalldebarsnookerderailobstructimpedehinderhamperdeterdiscomfitinformal:put the kibosh onnip in the budput paid toput the stopper ondo forstymiescupperput the mockers onnobbleOpposite advanceassist
   • ▪ prevent (an aim) from being achieved: "don't cheat by allowing your body to droop—this defeats the object of the exercise"
   • ▪ reject or block (a motion or proposal): "the amendment was defeated" Similar rejectoverthrowthrow outdismissoutvotespurnrebuffturn downinformal:give the thumbs downOpposite pass
   • ▪ be impossible for (someone) to understand: "this line of reasoning defeats me, I must confess" Similar bafflepuzzleperplexbewildermystifybemuseconfuseconfoundfrustratenonplusthrowinformal:beatflummoxdiscombobulatefazestumpfoxbe all Greek to
   • ▪ render null and void; annul.

   noun

   • 1. an instance of defeating or being defeated: "she had still not quite admitted defeat" Similar lossbeatingconquestconqueringbestingworstingvanquishingvanquishmentgame, set, and matchrouttrouncingoverpoweringsubjugationsubduingreversedebacledownfallinformal:thrashinghidingdrubbinglickinghammeringwhippingclobberingpastingpoundingpulverizingmassacreslaughterdemolitioncaningflatteningpwnageownagefailuredownfallbreakdowncollapseruinlack of successdiscomfiturerejectionfrustrationfounderingmisfiringoverthrowabortionmiscarriageundoingreversedisappointmentsetbackOpposite victorysuccess

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘undo, destroy, annul’): from Old French desfait ‘undone’, past participle of desfaire, from medieval Latin disfacere ‘undo’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defeatDefeat Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defeat

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   The meaning of DEFEAT is to win victory over : beat. How to use defeat in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Defeat.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › defeatDEFEAT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › defeat

   • Cached

   To defeat someone is to beat them in a competition or contest. As a noun, a defeat is a loss (as in That was the team’s first defeat of the season) and defeat is the state of having lost (as in the agony of defeat).

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDEFEAT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   DEFEAT definition: 1. to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition: 2. to cause someone or something to…. Learn more.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDEFEAT | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   DEFEAT meaning: 1. to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition: 2. to cause someone or something to…. Learn more.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › defeatDefeat - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › defeat

   noun. the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals. synonyms: frustration. see more. a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized. verb. win a victory over. “ defeat your enemies”. synonyms: get the better of, overcome.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDEFEAT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Defeat is the experience of being beaten in a battle, game, or contest, or of failing to achieve what you wanted to. The most important thing is not to admit defeat until you really have to. This vote is seen as a defeat for the liberal elite.

8. www.yourdictionary.com › defeatDefeat Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

   www.yourdictionary.com › defeat

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   Defeat definition: To do better than (another) in a competition or battle; win victory over; beat.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › defeatDefeat - definition of defeat by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › defeat

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   1. a. The act of defeating an opponent: the home team's defeat of their rivals. b. The state of being defeated; failure to win: the home team's defeat by their rivals. 2. A coming to naught; frustration: the defeat of a lifelong dream. 3. Law. a. The act of overcoming or frustrating the enforcement of. b. Law The act of making null and void.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishDEFEAT | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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    DEFEAT definition: 1. to win against someone in a fight or competition: 2. to make someone or something fail: 3. an…. Learn more.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdefeat noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    [uncountable, countable] failure to win or to be successful. The party faces defeat in the election. They suffered a narrow defeat in the final. a heavy/humiliating/crushing defeat. The world champion has only had two defeats in 20 fights. They finally had to admit defeat (= stop trying to be successful). to concede/accept defeat.