defeated smile

USAGE SUMMARY

"defeated smile" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a smile that conveys a feeling of defeat or resignation. For example, "She tried to hide her disappointment with a defeated smile, but everyone could tell she was disappointed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Defeated Smiles yield "thick blood" and "thin blood".

Wikipedia

We win the match on the next point, shake hands with the ladies we just defeated and smile as we head off the court to have lunch.

Huffington Post

Hence, even when Risotto defeated SISMA_ Smile, the latter was still relatively fast.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

As she said in defeat, smiling as ever, tearful yet not crushed, that was as well as she could box and it was not good enough against the best female boxer of them all.

The Guardian - Sport

Occasionally, an ashen prime minister will call in his cabinet colleagues and say with a wan, already-defeated smile: "I hope nobody is keeping a diary".

The Guardian - Books

Nixon, recently defeated, even manages to smile brightly.

The New Yorker

With a defeated expression and fake smile, Eric answered some basic questions my friend and I were anxious to know the answers to, namely: Where are all the vibrators?

Vice

The Foundation utilizes the public platform that God has blessed Tim Tebow with to inspire and make a difference in people's lives throughout the world". You, dear sir, have given a very bright day that we special needs parents, who are often overloaded, discouraged and defeated can remember with a smile.

HuffPost

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) 2 Aug 12 Djokovic is all smiles now, having defeated Tsonga, 6-4, 7-5.

The New York Times

Ségo was gracious in defeat, her smile as radiant as ever.

The Economist

If it were not for the horror of defeat, a smile of vindication might have been hovering on the lips of Peter Kenyon, the chief executive who appears resolved to hire a new manager.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defeated smile" to subtly convey a character's internal state of resignation or disappointment, adding depth to your descriptions. It’s more nuanced than simply stating they are sad.

Common error

Avoid using "defeated smile" excessively, as it can become repetitive. Consider using alternative phrases or showing the character's emotions through actions and dialogue instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defeated smile" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines the adjective "defeated", indicating a state of being overcome, with the noun "smile", referring to a facial expression. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defeated smile" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich expression used to describe a smile that belies feelings of resignation or disappointment. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable English phrase. While examples are currently limited, this analysis provides a comprehensive guide to its usage, exploring alternative phrases like "resigned smile" and "sad smile", offering writing tips, and addressing common queries. It can be effectively employed in various contexts to add depth to descriptions of characters and their emotional states, by portraying the person's genuine, underlying sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resigned smile

This alternative suggests acceptance of defeat, highlighting a lack of resistance.

resigned grin

Similar to resigned smile but using grin, indicating a wider smile.

sad smile

This is a more straightforward expression of sadness conveyed through a smile.

disappointed smile

Directly conveys disappointment through the smile.

disheartened smile

Emphasizes the loss of spirit or enthusiasm behind the smile.

wistful smile

This suggests a smile tinged with longing or regret.

rueful smile

Suggests a smile that acknowledges regret or embarrassment.

bitter smile

This implies a smile mixed with resentment or cynicism.

forced smile

This suggests a smile that is not genuine, often used to mask true feelings.

weary smile

This indicates a smile that is tired or strained.

FAQs

How to use "defeated smile" in a sentence?

You can use "defeated smile" to describe someone who is trying to appear cheerful despite feeling defeated. For instance, "She offered a "defeated smile" as she accepted the second-place trophy."

What can I say instead of "defeated smile"?

You can use alternatives like "resigned smile", "sad smile", or "wistful smile" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "defeated smile" or "defeating smile"?

"Defeated smile" is the correct phrase to describe a smile that expresses a feeling of defeat. "Defeating smile" would describe a smile that causes someone else to feel defeated, which has a different meaning.

What's the difference between "defeated smile" and "sad smile"?

A "defeated smile" implies a smile that is trying to mask feelings of defeat or resignation, while a "sad smile" simply conveys sadness through a smile. The former suggests a conscious effort to appear okay despite feeling down.