Defeat (Verb)
Meaning 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".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- The underdog team managed to defeat the reigning champions in an intense game of basketball.
- They focused on finding ways to defeat their main competitor by offering better services and lower prices.
- We must defeat fear to perform at our best, and for that we need strong willpower and confidence.
- The marathon runner struggled to defeat her exhaustion and push through the final mile of the competition.
- Her determination helped her defeat self-doubt and successfully start her new business.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 2
Thwart the passage of; "kill a motion"; "he shot down the student's proposal".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The opposition party planned to introduce a motion to defeat the contentious bill and prevent its passage.
- Lawmakers attempted to defeat the legislation by introducing numerous amendments that would render it unworkable.
- The company's proposal to establish a new factory was defeated by local residents who raised concerns about environmental pollution.
- The union representatives threatened to defeat the proposed collective agreement if management refused to reconsider their terms.
- Environmental activists worked tirelessly to defeat the resolution that would allow the construction of a dam in a sensitive ecosystem.