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defeat - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'defeat' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Defeat [ v.]
- An undoing or annulling; destruction.
- Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
- An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.
2 . Defeat [ v. t.]
- To undo; to disfigure; to destroy.
- To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
- To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
- To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.

Meaning of 'defeat' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . defeat [ n]
Meaning (1):
- an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
Example in sentence:
  • it was a narrow defeat;
  • the army's only defeat;
  • they suffered a convincing licking
2 . defeat [ v]
Meaning (2):
- win a victory over
Example in sentence:
  • defeat your enemies;
  • He overcame his infirmity;
  • He overcame his shyness;
  • Her anger got the better of her and she blew up;
  • You must overcome all difficulties
Meaning (3):
- thwart the passage of
Example in sentence:
  • he shot down the student's proposal;
  • kill a motion

Nearby Words:

deface defaced defacement defacer defacing defail defailance defailure defalcate defalcated

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