Find Antonyms

winning Antonyms

Opposite of winning

Because the opposite of winning shifts with each meaning, the 25 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
JUMP TO:

• adjective (Context 1)

Gaining, resulting in, or relating to victory in a contest, game, or competition.

Usage Example

"She scored the losing goal in the final seconds of the championship match."

Strongest
losing
defeated
beaten
Strong
unsuccessful
conquered
vanquished
failing
winless

• noun (Context 2)

The act or process of achieving victory, success, or first place in a competition or endeavor.

Usage Example

"For the dedicated coach, losing was less important than teaching the young athletes good sportsmanship."

Strongest
losing
defeat
loss
failure
Strong
beating
surrender

• noun (Context 3)

Money or prizes won, especially through gambling, lotteries, or competitions (usually used in the plural, 'winnings').

Usage Example

"He decided to invest his lottery winnings into a college fund for his children."

Strongest
losses
Strong
debts
forfeits

• adjective (Context 4)

Attractive, charming, or engaging in manner or appearance, tending to win favor or affection.

Usage Example

"The candidate greeted the audience with a warm, unappealing smile that immediately put everyone at ease."

Strongest
unappealing
repulsive
off-putting
Strong
disagreeable
unattractive
repellent
obnoxious
unpleasant
uncharming

Similar words to winning

Words similar to winning shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

charming
victory
victorious
engaging
winsome
triumph
triumphant
disarming
See all synonyms of winning

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Winning. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/winning
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Dictionary & Reference
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.