Defeat example sentences
Related (13): loss, failure, overcome, conquer, vanquish, triumph, victory, win, beat, surrender, setback, rout, conquest
"Defeat" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- defeat the purpose
- admit defeat
- suffer a defeat
- defeat the odds
- in defeat
- taste defeat
- defeat oneself
- defeat a proposal
- defeat an enemy
- defeat the system
- snatch defeat from victory
- defeat the motion
Examples by Level
A1
- The team lost the game—it was their first defeat.
- I will not defeat myself by giving up now.
- She tried to defeat her fear of the dark.
A2
- His defeat in the competition was hard to accept, but he learned from it.
- They worked together to defeat the problem that had been troubling them.
- After the defeat, nobody wanted to talk about what went wrong.
B1
- Looking back, the defeat wasn't really a failure—it taught me everything I needed to know.
- She refused to let one defeat define her entire career.
- The defeat of the proposal meant the old rules would stay in place for another year.
B2
- His repeated defeats had worn him down, but he wasn't ready to surrender completely.
- The company's defeat in the market forced them to rethink their entire strategy.
- She understood that to defeat her anxiety, she'd have to face it directly, not avoid it.
C1
- The defeat carried with it a peculiar kind of clarity—suddenly everything made sense in a way it hadn't before.
- What appeared to be a defeat was, in retrospect, the catalyst that changed everything.
- He'd learned to extract meaning from defeat in a way that most people never could.
C2
- There was something almost redemptive in the way she carried her defeat—not as shame, but as evidence of having tried.
- The defeat of the initiative represented not merely a political loss but a fundamental shift in how the movement understood itself.
- In defeat, he discovered a resilience he hadn't known he possessed, a quiet strength born not from victory but from having endured.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- My kid's soccer team suffered a defeat so bad that he didn't want to go back next week.
- I tried to defeat the weeds in my garden, but they just keep coming back.
- After the defeat, he moped around the house for days refusing to talk about it.
💼 Workplace
- The defeat of the merger proposal meant we'd all be staying put for at least another year.
- She didn't let the defeat in the pitch affect her confidence going into the next meeting.
- The team's defeat by the competing firm stung, but it motivated us to work harder.
📊 Business
- The company's defeat in the patent lawsuit cost them their exclusive market position.
- To defeat the competition, we need to innovate faster than they can copy us.
- Their defeat in the bidding process was a wake-up call that we needed better pricing.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- I tried to defeat the urge to buy things I didn't need, but the sale got me anyway.
- The defeat of the price increase meant we could finally afford to upgrade.
- Nothing could defeat my determination to find the perfect pair of shoes on sale.
✈️ Travel
- The defeat of our original plan meant we had to book a completely different trip.
- Jet lag tried to defeat us on the first day, but we pushed through.
- After the defeat of our flight, we ended up renting a car and driving instead.
📚 Education
- The student's defeat in the spelling bee was disappointing, but she tried again next year.
- The teacher used the defeat of a historical empire to explain how civilizations change.
- His defeat in the math competition made him work even harder on his skills.
❤️ Relationships
- We broke up after the defeat of our dreams to travel together—we just wanted different things.
- She felt the defeat of her hopes when he said he wasn't ready for commitment.
- The defeat of their plans to move in together strained the relationship for months.
📰 News / Politics
- The defeat of the healthcare bill meant millions would remain uninsured.
- Politicians are already spinning the defeat as a strategic retreat, not a loss.
- The defeat of the amendment surprised analysts who thought it would pass easily.
💻 Technology
- The defeat of the old software system meant we had to learn an entirely new platform.
- They tried to defeat the security breach, but the damage was already done.
- The defeat of the app in the market showed that users wanted something different.
📝 Formal Writing
- The defeat of the proposed regulation was attributed to insufficient stakeholder consultation.
- Research indicates that early defeat in academic settings can negatively impact long-term educational outcomes.
- The defeat of the initiative demonstrates the challenges inherent in implementing systemic policy change.