loser

noun

los·​er ˈlü-zər How to pronounce loser (audio)
Synonyms of losernext
1
: a person or thing that loses especially consistently
The team had a reputation for being a loser year after year.
2
: a person who is incompetent or unable to succeed
Don't waste your time on that loser.
also : something doomed to fail or disappoint
… his position is a loser politically … —Fred Barnes

Synonyms of loser

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Examples of loser in a Sentence

The team had a reputation for being a loser year after year. The loser of the bet has to buy drinks for the winner. Whoever benefits from the new government programs, the real loser will be the American taxpayer. That guy is a born loser.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The quarterfinal winners will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, while the losers will face off in a final set of matches to determine which two teams advance to FIFA’s intercontinental playoff next year. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2026 That point was on Monday, with the former first lady, secretary of state, senator and 2016 presidential election loser showing up to watch the New York Liberty take on the Seattle Storm. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The winners and losers of that sort of shift remain to be seen. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 Strategists are still looking at the data but some top-line folks clearly came out winners—and others losers. — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loser

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of loser was in 1548

Phrases Containing loser

Rhymes for loser

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Browse Nearby Words

lose patience
loser
lose sight of
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Cite this Entry

“Loser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loser. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of loser for Spanish Speakers

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