defeating with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defeating with" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express overcoming or winning against someone or something, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "He was defeating with his strategy, but it ultimately failed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In California, there's the Drug Price Relief Act (Proposition 1), which record-breaking corporate spending by Big Pharma is aimed toward defeating with its 9-to-1 fundraising advantage.

Huffington Post

Bush was elected in 1966 to a House of Representatives seat from the 7th District of Texas, defeating with 57 percent of the ballots cast the Democrat Frank Briscoe, the district attorney of Harris County known for his law and order credentials and a cousin of later Governor Dolph Briscoe.

Wikipedia

In such cases austerity risks being self defeating, with cuts to government spending simply leading to lower growth, less tax revenue and a bigger benefits bill.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Ideologies are not defeated with guns, they're defeated by better ideas".

Independent

The Taliban has to be defeated with overwhelming force, exercised by the Pakistan Army.

The New York Times

"I was badly defeated with that legislation both times," he wrote a fellow Georgist in 1973.

The New York Times

The amendment was defeated, with some Republican lawmakers calling it an attack on farmers.

The New York Times

But America downplays any idea that IS can be defeated with firepower alone.

The Economist

He said that Dr. Dean would lead the party to defeat with that kind of appeal.

The New York Times

Alfonzo was out, the game was over and the Mets again were defeated with a whimper.

The New York Times - Sports

His brazenness continued even after Croatia went down to defeat with Nazi Germany, its ally.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "defeating with" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "defeating through" or restructuring the sentence for better clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "with" directly after "defeating" when describing the means of victory. Instead, consider rephrasing to use "through" or "by" to enhance clarity, or restructure the sentence to avoid the preposition altogether.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "defeating with" is to describe the manner or means by which something is overcome. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically awkward and uncommon, potentially leading to confusion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "defeating with" is considered grammatically incorrect and uncommon in contemporary English. Ludwig AI analysis points out its awkwardness, even though it occasionally appears in news and general sources. To ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, alternative phrases like "defeating through", "overcoming with", or restructuring the sentence are recommended. Prioritize these approaches to improve the precision and professionalism of your writing. Remember that while the intention is clear, grammatical standards are important to proper communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Overcoming with

Replaces "defeating" with "overcoming", suggesting a successful handling of a challenge, but the prepositional usage is still awkward.

Vanquishing with

Substitutes "defeating" with "vanquishing", implying a comprehensive victory, yet retains the unconventional prepositional usage.

Conquering with

Uses "conquering" instead of "defeating", indicating control gained through victory, but still suffers from awkward prepositional usage.

Winning with

Replaces "defeating" with "winning", a more common term for achieving victory, while retaining the awkward preposition.

Prevailing with

Substitutes "defeating" with "prevailing", indicating success after a struggle, though the prepositional usage is still somewhat unnatural.

Defeating through

Replaces "with" with "through", resulting in a slightly better but still unnatural construction.

Achieving victory with

Replaces "defeating" with "achieving victory", making the sentence more verbose while still incorporating "with".

Securing a win with

Uses "securing a win" instead of "defeating", making the phrase longer but retaining the preposition "with".

Triumphing with

Replaces "defeating" with "triumphing", which suggests a great victory, but the phrase still sounds unnatural.

Beating with

Replaces "defeating" with "beating", which is less formal but still retains the original phrase structure.

FAQs

Is "defeating with" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "defeating with" is generally considered grammatically awkward. More appropriate alternatives include "defeating through" or rephrasing the sentence to achieve better clarity.

What are some alternatives to "defeating with"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "overcoming with", "prevailing through", or simply rephrase the sentence to use a more standard construction. For instance, instead of "defeating with strength", try "defeating through strength" or "defeating by using strength".

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "defeating with" for better clarity?

Instead of saying "The army was defeating the enemy with superior tactics", you could say "The army was defeating the enemy through superior tactics" or "The army defeated the enemy by using superior tactics" for improved clarity.

What's the difference between "defeating with" and "defeating through"?

"Defeating with" is grammatically unconventional and less clear. "Defeating through" is a better alternative as it specifies the means or method by which the defeat is achieved. However, rephrasing to eliminate the preposition may provide even better clarity.