: presenting two options both of which put one at a disadvantage
a lose-lose proposition

Examples of lose-lose in a Sentence

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.
Gender Bias 2: Women’s Workplace Efficiency Is Undervalued In a classic lose-lose scenario, the study also identified an evaluation bias that negatively impacts highly productive women who get their work done in less time. Michelle Travis, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 Politico: Trump pushes Europe into a lose-lose choice between the U.S. and China. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025 The question puts coaches in a lose-lose situation, which is why Iowa’s Lisa Bluder declined to answer it at her news conference. David Whitley, The Tennessean, 9 Apr. 2024 Some feel enforcing cellphone bans in the classroom is a lose-lose. Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 26 Aug. 2024 For Richard Linklater, talking about awards and accolades is a lose-lose situation. Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2024 If not addressed properly, these issues compound over time, resulting in a lose-lose situation for retailers and buyers alike. Roland Gossage, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024 That’s a lose-lose situation for WWE, making a Rhodes-Reigns union—albeit briefly and only to unite against a common enemy—the win-win situation here. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024 From my own experience working inside and outside of large corporates, setting goals is often a lose-lose situation. Rob Kaplan, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lose-lose was in 1965

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Lose-lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose-lose. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!