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

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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.
More Mark Taylor/Getty Images Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer has predicted that New York will be the biggest losers when the trade deadline is complete. — Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025 Kelsey was the biggest loser—her shelter was nearly engulfed by a massive river. — Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 18 July 2025 Anyone who thinks of them as wrong turns is the real loser. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 July 2025 Order backlogs were a defining factor between winners and losers. — Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 18 July 2025 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loser. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.

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