1
as in missing
to be unable to find or have at hand
I always lose my keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dropping
to fail to win, gain, or obtain
if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in falling
to undergo defeat
she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dumping
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we told the recent grad to lose the flashy shirts and dress conservatively for the job interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in spending
to use up carelessly
we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of losing
The decision comes two days after Harbaugh's 2025 squad was unable to secure the AFC North title, losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
When Sweden claimed its first World Junior Championship in more than a decade Monday at Grand Casino Arena, Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin was half the country away, battling the Los Angeles Kings in an ultimately losing effort.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
The Phillies fell short in the postseason again, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Fear of losing your job, fear of losing your funding.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for losing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for losing
Verb
-
Prater was hurt in the first half of a season-ending 35-8 win over the New York Jets on Sunday in his return after missing two games.—
-
The only thing missing from his resume is Olympic gold.—
Verb
-
The Packers finished a season that began with Super Bowl hopes by dropping five in a row.—
-
The Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll midseason after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Chicago Bears, a game in which rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart sustained a concussion, dropping them to 2-8.—
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
-
Shop my favorite airport looks for winter travel below, with each outfit falling at or below $100.—
Verb
-
Countries like China let their industries pollute freely, dumping chemicals into rivers, pumping toxins into the air and throwing plastics into the ocean.—
-
Lately on TikTok, people have been dumping frozen orange juice concentrate into blenders alongside Greek yogurt, bananas, and other fridge and pantry staples to recreate the viral Orange Julius smoothie.—
Verb
-
And just in case, she was laid to rest with some local currency, or spending cash, almost 1,000 Kaiyuan Tongbao coins tied to her waist and right leg, as per Arkeonews reported.—
-
As the Carolina Panthers snapped a seven-season drought to claim the NFC South title, the Charlotte region may see another tourism spending boost from the team’s home playoff game last Saturday.—
Verb
-
By capturing moments automatically and persistently, Poketomo echoes long-standing dystopian ideas of total recall, where forgetting is no longer natural, and where the past is always available, searchable, and impossible to fully leave behind.—
-
The sun's rays dance across the rooftops of a city defined by its historic university and which has, without forgetting its rich past, embraced modernity.—
Verb
-
The other half sees an economy on the verge of faltering, with rising unemployment, that needs easier money to avoid recession.—
-
Efforts to advance a US peace plan for Gaza appear to be faltering over reconstruction and security challenges.—
Verb
-
How To Prep Blueberries Before Washing Before cleaning, spread fresh blueberries onto a plate or tray and sort through, discarding any moldy, shriveled, or crushed berries, along with stray stems or leaves.—
-
The Fix-It Fair is designed to help community members breathe new life into their beloved but broken items, rather than discarding them.—
Cite this Entry
“Losing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/losing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share