ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Defeat', Synonyms of 'Defeat' & More on 'Defeat'

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

KO, Waterloo, answer, answer conclusively, argue down, baffle, bafflement, balk, balking, bankruptcy, bar, bear down, bear the palm, beat, beat all hollow, beat down, beat hollow, beating, best, betrayed hope, bilk, blast, blasted expectation, blighted hope, block, blow, brave, bring down, buffet, cast down, challenge, check, checkmate, circumvent, cleaning, cleanup, clobber, clobbering, comedown, confound, confounding, confront, confute, conquer, conquest, contradict, contravene, controvert, cook, counter, counteract, countermand, counterwork, cross, cruel disappointment, crush, dash, dashed hope, debacle, defeasance, defeat expectation, defy, demolish, deny, destroy, disappoint, disappointment, discomfit, discomfiture, disconcert, disconcertion, discountenance, dish, disillusion, disillusionment, dismiss, dispose of, disrupt, dissatisfaction, dissatisfy, do for, do in, downcast, downthrow, drub, drubbing, dusting, elude, end, failure, fallen countenance, fiasco, finish, fix, fizzle, floor, flummox, foil, foiling, forlorn hope, frustrate, frustration, futility, hide, hinder, hope deferred, hors de combat, ill success, impede, knock out, knock the chocks, lambaste, lambasting, lather, let down, letdown, lick, licking, losing game, mirage, miscarriage, no go, nonaccomplishment, nonplus, nonsuccess, obstruct, outclass, outdo, outfight, outgeneral, outmaneuver, outpoint, outrun, outsail, outshine, overcome, overpower, overthrow, overturn, overwhelm, parry, perplex, prevail over, put, put to silence, rebuff, rebut, reduce, reduce to silence, refute, repress, repulse, reversal, reverse, rise above, rout, ruin, sabotage, scotch, scuttle, setback, settle, shellacking, shoot down, shut up, silence, sink, skin, skin alive, smash all opposition, sore disappointment, spike, spoil, squash, squelch, stonewall, stop, stump, subdue, subjugate, subvert, successlessness, suppress, surmount, take the cake, tantalization, tantalize, tease, terminate, thrash, thrashing, thwart, thwarting, torpedo, trim, triumph, triumph over, trounce, trouncing, undermine, undo, undoing, unsuccess, unsuccessfulness, upset, uselessness, vanquish, vanquishment, warming, whip, win, worst

Dictionary Results for defeat:

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

defeat
    n 1: an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest; "it was a
         narrow defeat"; "the army's only defeat"; "they suffered a
         convincing licking" [syn: defeat, licking] [ant:
         triumph, victory]
    2: the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted
       in attaining your goals [syn: frustration, defeat]
    v 1: win a victory over; "You must overcome all difficulties";
         "defeat your enemies"; "He overcame his shyness"; "He
         overcame his infirmity"; "Her anger got the better of her
         and she blew up" [syn: get the better of, overcome,
         defeat]
    2: thwart the passage of; "kill a motion"; "he shot down the
       student's proposal" [syn: kill, shoot down, defeat,
       vote down, vote out]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Defeat \De*feat"\, n. [Cf. F. d['e]faite, fr. d['e]faire. See
   Defeat, v.]
   1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Upon whose property and most dear life
            A damned defeat was made.             --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention
      of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle;
      repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Defeat \De*feat"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Defeating.] [From F. d['e]fait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe
   d['e]faire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do.
   See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
   1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            His unkindness may defeat my life.    --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as
      hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
      [1913 Webster]

            He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being
            that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all
            his hopes.                            --Tillotson.
      [1913 Webster]

            The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his
            succession.                           --Hallam.
      [1913 Webster]

            In one instance he defeated his own purpose. --A. W.
                                                  Ward.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse,
      or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.
      [1913 Webster]

            Sharp reasons to defeat the law.      --Shak.

   Syn: To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
        [1913 Webster]

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