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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.dictionary.com › browse › defeat&DEFEAT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   noun. the act of overcoming in a contest: an overwhelming defeat of all opposition. an instance of defeat; setback: He considered his defeat a personal affront. an overthrow or overturning; vanquishment: the defeat of a government. a bringing to naught; frustration: the defeat of all his hopes and dreams.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarydefeat | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   defeat noun (LOSE) B1. an occasion when someone loses against someone else in a fight or competition: The Chicago Cubs have suffered their worst defeat of the season. More examples. a humiliating defeat. a crushing defeat. England's 2-1 defeat by France. He was reluctant to admit defeat.

4. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › defeat_2defeat noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › defeat_2

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   Definition of defeat noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

5. en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › defeatdefeat - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › defeat

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   Mar 23, 2024 · ( transitive) To overcome in battle or contest . Synonyms: see Thesaurus: defeat. Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. ( transitive) To reduce, to nothing, the strength of. ( transitive) To nullify. To prevent (something) from being achieved. Synonyms [ edit] vanquish, overcome, beat. Hyponyms [ edit]

6. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defeatingDefeating Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › defeating

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   1. : to win victory over : beat. defeated their archrivals in the championship game. The bill was defeated in the Senate. 2. a. : frustrate sense 2a (1) defeat a hope. b. law : nullify. defeat an estate. 3. obsolete : destroy. … his unkindness may defeat my life … Shakespeare. defeatable.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › defeatDEFEAT | English meaning - Cambridge Essential American

   dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › defeat

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   to win against someone in a fight or competition: She was defeated by an Australian player in the first round of the tournament. defeat. noun. us / dɪˈfit/ B1. the action of someone losing a fight or competition. (Definition of defeat from the Webster's Essential Mini Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Translations of defeat.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › defeatdefeat definition | Cambridge Essential American Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › defeat

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   Definition of defeat in Essential American English Dictionary. defeat. verb. us / dɪˈfit/ B1. to win against someone in a fight or competition: She was defeated by an Australian player in the first round of the tournament. defeat. noun. us / dɪˈfit/ B1. the action of someone losing a fight or competition.