narrowly defeated

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrowly defeated" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe a defeat that was very close or almost did not happen. For example: - The team was narrowly defeated in the final seconds of the game. - After a heated debate, the bill was narrowly defeated by just one vote. - The politician narrowly defeated his opponent in the election. - The underdog team narrowly defeated the reigning champions in a shocking upset.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our motion was narrowly defeated.

University of California, Berkeley

She narrowly defeated the left-wing incumbent.

The Economist

Only Arizona's recreational measure was narrowly defeated.

The Washington Post

In his second bid in 2010, he narrowly defeated Tymoshenko.

The New York Times

He was narrowly defeated in the 1948 parliamentary election.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The new pres., Gerald McEntee, narrowly defeated William Lucy.

The New Yorker

Kennedy voted against Strauss and the nomination was narrowly defeated.

The Washington Post

It's about time Potter was pipped (narrowly defeated).

The New York Times

Similar motions were narrowly defeated in two other regions.

The Guardian

The plan was narrowly defeated in the Parliament.

The New York Times

On an anti-big-government platform, he narrowly defeated Sawyer.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "narrowly defeated" to emphasize the closeness of a loss, adding a sense of drama or highlighting the competitive nature of the situation. For example, in sports writing or political analysis, it can effectively convey the intensity of the contest.

Common error

Avoid using "narrowly defeated" when the margin of defeat is actually quite large. This phrase is most effective when the outcome was truly close, and misusing it can diminish the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

Narrowly defeated functions as a descriptive phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate how a person, team, or proposal was defeated. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. For example, "The bill was narrowly defeated in the Senate."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "narrowly defeated" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a close loss, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It’s best used when the margin of defeat is small, adding emphasis and drama to the situation. While versatile enough for news, academic writing, and encyclopedias, remember that it suggests a closely contested outcome and shouldn't be used when the defeat was actually quite large. Consider using alternatives like "closely beaten" or "edged out" to add variety to your writing. Ludwig's examples provide useful context for how the phrase is typically employed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

closely beaten

Emphasizes the small margin by which someone was defeated.

barely lost

Highlights the narrowness of the defeat, suggesting it could have easily been a win.

edged out

Implies a slight advantage by the victor in a close contest.

scraped a loss

Suggests the defeat was almost avoided, implying a difficult situation.

just lost

Simple and direct way of expressing a narrow defeat.

by a hair's breadth

Idiomatic expression indicating an extremely small margin of defeat.

by a slim margin

Focuses on the small difference between winning and losing.

only just lost

Emphasizes how close the defeat was to being a victory.

almost won but failed

Highlights the near success before ultimate failure.

suffered a narrow loss

Formal way of stating that the defeat was by a small margin.

FAQs

How can I use "narrowly defeated" in a sentence?

You can use "narrowly defeated" to describe a situation where someone or something lost by a small margin. For example, "The bill was "narrowly defeated" in the Senate" or "The team was "narrowly defeated" in the final seconds of the game".

What are some alternatives to "narrowly defeated"?

Some alternatives to "narrowly defeated" include phrases like "closely beaten", "barely lost", or "edged out", each conveying a similar sense of a close loss.

Is it correct to say "narrowly defeated" or should I use another phrase?

"Narrowly defeated" is a correct and commonly used phrase. However, the best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey. Phrases like "just lost" or "by a slim margin" may be more appropriate in some cases.

What is the difference between "narrowly defeated" and "decisively defeated"?

"Narrowly defeated" implies a close contest where the margin of loss was small, whereas "decisively defeated" suggests a clear and significant victory for the opponent. They represent opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of the magnitude of defeat.