'Defeat' definitions:
Definition of 'defeat'
(from WordNet)
noun
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]
noun
The feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals [syn: frustration, defeat]
verb
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]
verb
Thwart the passage of; "kill a motion"; "he shot down the student's proposal" [syn: kill, shoot down, defeat, vote down, vote out]
Definition of 'Defeat'
From: GCIDE
- 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]
Definition of 'Defeat'
From: GCIDE
- 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]
Synonyms of 'defeat'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- 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,
- KO,
- 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,
- Waterloo,
- whip,
- win,
- worst