loser

noun

los·​er ˈlü-zər 

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

• bomb
• bummer
• bust
• catastrophe
• clinker
• clunker
• debacle
• débâcle
• disaster
• dud
• failure
• fiasco
• fizzle
• flop
• frost
• lemon
• miss
• shipwreck
• turkey
• washout

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

The presidential victor will be showered in praise while the loser will be excoriated — no matter how close the election turns out to be. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Details: Each county then designates a recount board made up of three members: one chosen by the apparent winner, one by the apparent loser and a third person agreed upon by both. —Linh Ta, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

The loser would need to identify a viable rationale for a court to vacate the arbitration decision. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024

One of the biggest losers Friday was Capri Holdings Ltd., which lost nearly half its value after a federal judge blocked its acquisition by Tapestry. —Ian Mount, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing loser

• bad/poor loser
• good loser
• sore loser