defeat confirmation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defeat confirmation" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing the act of disproving or invalidating a confirmation, but clarity may be lacking without additional context. Example: "The evidence presented in court served to defeat confirmation of the defendant's alibi."

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Neither the analysis of a great scientific populariser (Mr Liberman) nor reach of Buzzfeed (130m monthly users) nor the sting of satire (of which Mr Colbert is a virtuoso) can defeat confirmation bias.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Defeating confirmation bias can be challenging, but if you are willing to open your mind and talk to others then you can really overcome it and gain a whole new insight that can be surprisingly beneficial.

Huffington Post

When I was a college student, I got a chance to attend a lecture by, and later meet, Judge Robert Bork, Ronald Reagan's nominee for the Supreme Court who was defeated for confirmation in the late 1980s.

Huffington Post

Bork is an iconic figure to religious conservatives, who remember his bruising confirmation defeat as a Supreme Court nominee largely over the issue of abortion.

The New Yorker

He has been in the middle of a handful of intense battles, some of which he won, notably his effort as chairman of the Judiciary Committee to defeat the Supreme Court confirmation of Robert H. Bork in 1987.

The New York Times

Officials of the liberal groups acknowledged the goal of laying groundwork, but insisted they were still building momentum to defeat Judge Alito's confirmation.

The New York Times

Watch a rerun of the defeat by Sunderland for confirmation.

BBC

Should St Mirren earn a point from Saturday's trip to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hearts must avoid defeat to postpone the confirmation of their relegation.

BBC

England's 150-run defeat in Perth, the confirmation of an Ashes victory for Australia that we have seen coming for some time, signals the beginning of a period of introspection for all connected with English cricket.

BBC

The effort to elevate Judge Charles W. Pickering Sr. to a seat on a federal appeals court seems increasingly likely to end with President Bush suffering a defeat in his first judicial confirmation fight with Democrats, senators and staff aides of both parties said today.

The New York Times

Blackpool's third relegation in six seasons – slipping into League Two five years after almost surviving in the Premier League – was sealed on Sunday after a desperate capitulation and a 5-1 defeat but it was merely confirmation of something that has been known for some time.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger, more common verbs like "reject", "block", or "overturn" instead of "defeat" for greater clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "defeat confirmation" when you mean to delay or postpone it. "Defeat" implies a complete and final rejection, not a temporary setback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defeat confirmation" functions as a verb phrase where "defeat" acts as a transitive verb taking "confirmation" as its direct object. Ludwig identifies the phrase's use as infrequent. The phrase describes the action of preventing something from being formally approved.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defeat confirmation" is a relatively uncommon expression that describes the act of preventing something from being formally approved. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it lacks clarity and conciseness compared to alternatives like "reject confirmation" or "block confirmation". Predominantly used in news and academic contexts, the phrase aims to express opposition and obstruction within formal approval processes. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context clearly indicates a complete and final rejection, not a temporary delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reject confirmation

Focuses on the act of refusing or not accepting a confirmation.

overturn confirmation

Implies reversing or nullifying a confirmation that was already in place.

block confirmation

Emphasizes preventing a confirmation from happening.

obstruct confirmation

Highlights the act of hindering or impeding the confirmation process.

thwart confirmation

Suggests successfully preventing a confirmation despite efforts to achieve it.

invalidate confirmation

Focuses on making a confirmation null and void.

nullify confirmation

Similar to invalidate, emphasizing the cancellation of a confirmation.

rescind confirmation

Implies taking back or revoking a confirmation that was previously given.

reverse confirmation

Focuses on changing a confirmation to its opposite.

repeal confirmation

Suggests formally revoking or annulling a confirmation.

FAQs

What does "defeat confirmation" mean?

The phrase "defeat confirmation" means to successfully prevent something from being confirmed or approved. This often refers to blocking a nomination or proposal from being formally accepted.

Which is more appropriate, "defeat confirmation" or "reject confirmation"?

"Reject confirmation" is generally a more common and readily understood phrase than "defeat confirmation". While both convey a similar meaning, "reject" is often preferred for its directness and clarity.

How can I use "defeat confirmation" in a sentence?

You can use "defeat confirmation" in sentences such as: "The opposition successfully worked to defeat the judge's confirmation" or "The senator vowed to defeat the confirmation of the controversial nominee".

What are some alternatives to "defeat confirmation"?

Alternatives to "defeat confirmation" include phrases like "block confirmation", "reject confirmation", or "thwart confirmation", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of preventing a confirmation from succeeding.