as in overcoming
to achieve a victory over
they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defeating
This came on the heels of another fleeting feel-good moment for the Rangers (20-18-6), who opened the new year by defeating the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers in Friday’s Winter Classic.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Zinke faced close races during his second House tenure however, winning his seat in the 2022 midterms by around three points before defeating the same opponent during the 2024 presidential election by more than seven points.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Cougars scored a 71-54 win at Stanislaus State on Sunday after defeating UC Merced 70-64 on Friday.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Westwood The Warriors (17-2) won their division at the Hays tournament by defeating Connally 92-26, Austin High 52-42, Dripping Springs 60-50 and the hosts 63-47.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
At the turn of the year, the Hawks were 0-5 with Young in the lineup since his mid-December return, before going out again — with the Young-less Hawks dismantling the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-102 on New Year’s Eve and then defeating the New York Knicks without Young on Friday night.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026
And Will is, in so many ways, the key to defeating Vecna.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026
The Lancers won their conference tournament by defeating Utah Tech and Utah Valley, with both matches going to penalty kicks.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025
Ole Miss wound up defeating Oklahoma 34-26 in Norman.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeating
Verb
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DiMarco’s participation became a highlight of the event, with the student asking thoughtful questions about overcoming imposter syndrome and handling rejection.—
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And that religion, like music, can carry the sound of struggle – but also the hope of one day overcoming the injustices and inequalities of everyday life.—
Verb
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Advocacy isn’t about mastering policy jargon or tracking every bill.—
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But there can also be peace in mastering it.—
Verb
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With mixer on medium speed, gradually add heavy cream, 1/2 cup at a time, beating until combined after each addition, 1 to 2 minutes total.—
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On Saturday, that meant beating the Syracuse Orange 38-10 at Hard Rock Stadium.—
Verb
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Food and drink All-conquering culinary Alpinist Jean-Georges Vongerichten has planted his flag in Dublin at Jean-Georges at The Leinster.—
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The key to conquering such a bold shade?—
Verb
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But in 1999, just months after Luke was born, Andrea attempted suicide by taking an overdose of medication prescribed for her father, who was ill.—
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Someone had ordered pizza to the home, and a delivery driver spent some time ringing the doorbell before returning to his car, taking the pies with him.—
Verb
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If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality.—
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Chief among them is getting to be a mentor to newer cast members, such as Marcello Hernández.—
Verb
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Providence Fire Department officials quickly declared a mass casualty incident, according to records, with the department dispatching rescue task forces and requesting ballistic protection for medics who were ordered to standby until police could secure each scene.—
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As reported by local outlet Cleveland19, and per the police statement, police stated that officers responded immediately, dispatching all available patrol units and detectives due to the seriousness of the report and potential public danger.—
Verb
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The Rhode founder and her stylist Dani Michele delivered a show-stopping moment on the red carpet, pulling a shimmering 2009 Armani Privé gown from the archives.—
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Stroll through the Funk Zone, stopping at wineries, breweries, and local shops along the way.—
Cite this Entry
“Defeating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeating. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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