The Upper House seems bent on defeating any reform bills.
Source: tatoeba (245045)
Defeating
Synonyms for "defeating" (39 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (8)
Strong matches (12)
Related words (19)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ascendant, baffling, beat, beating, besting.
- Sentence evidence is available for defeating, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "defeating".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "defeating"
Keep "defeating" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "defeating" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "defeating", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "defeating" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesachievementactioncounterproductivitycritiquedescriptive adjectivedisproofineffectivenessnullificationoutcomeprocessprogressqualitative adjectiveresultsuccess
More specific
21 entriesbeatconquercrushingdecisivedisproofdominantfalsificationmilitary defeatnullificationoutperformoutplayoverpoweroverwhelmingpersonal defeatpolitical defeatrefutation
Showing 16 of 21 words.
Collocations
14 entriesact of defeatingdefeating an enemydefeating championdefeating movedefeating opponentdefeating opponentsdefeating performancedefeating rivaldefeating strategydefeating teamdefeating the competitiondefeating the oddsdefeating the purposestrategies for defeating
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
When Novak Djokovic was doing the on-court post-match interview after defeating Gilles Simon in an error-ridden five-setter, a fan shouted from the stands, "No more drop shots!" With a grin, Djokovic replied, "I hate to say that, but you're absolutely right."
Source: tatoeba (4926762)
Tedros said solidarity was the key to defeating COVID-19.
Source: tatoeba (8626139)
Rome, not satisfied with defeating her rival in the two previous wars, took a convenient pretext to invade Carthage and destroy every vestige of the city.
Source: tatoeba (11689648)
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "defeating"?
Closest matches include ascendant, baffling, beat, beating, besting.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "defeating"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.