defeat

[ dih-feet ]
/ dɪˈfit /

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of defeat

1325–75; Middle English defeten (v.) < Anglo-French, Old French desfait, past participle of desfaire to undo, destroy < Medieval Latin disfacere, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + facere to do

synonym study for defeat

1. Defeat, conquer, overcome, subdue imply gaining a victory or control over an opponent. Defeat suggests beating or frustrating: to defeat an enemy in battle. Conquer implies finally gaining control over, usually after a series of efforts or against systematic resistance: to conquer a country, one's inclinations. Overcome emphasizes surmounting difficulties in prevailing over an antagonist: to overcome opposition, bad habits. Subdue means to conquer so completely that resistance is broken: to subdue a rebellious spirit.

OTHER WORDS FROM defeat

Example sentences from the Web for defeated

British Dictionary definitions for defeated

defeat
/ (dɪˈfiːt) /

verb (tr)

to overcome in a contest or competition; win a victory over
to thwart or frustrate this accident has defeated all his hopes of winning
law to render null and void; annul

noun

Derived forms of defeat

defeater, noun

Word Origin for defeat

C14: from Old French desfait, from desfaire to undo, ruin, from des- dis- 1 + faire to do, from Latin facere