nearly defeated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly defeated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something was close to being overcome or losing, but ultimately did not. Example: "In the final moments of the match, the team was nearly defeated, but they rallied to score a last-minute goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

German opposition nearly defeated the new directive.

The New York Times

My theory is that Bloomberg nearly defeated himself.

The New Yorker

They had to break through the crust of rock — a gruelling process that nearly defeated them.

The New Yorker

Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's best-known, much-persecuted opposition leader, nearly defeated Najib in the 2013 elections.

The Guardian

Shoulders slumped and puffy bags under her eyes, Ms. Ceballos seemed nearly defeated.

The New York Times

The union sat out the governor's race again in 1997, when Mr. McGreevey nearly defeated Mrs. Whitman.

The New York Times

In 1997, Mr. McGreevey nearly defeated Mrs. Whitman in his first run for governor by harping on the issue.

The New York Times

So the Greeks are nearly defeated, and while Achilles sulks in his tent, his dearest friend, Patroclus, is killed.

The New York Times

Yet the theoretically simple matter of booking an assisted-travel ticket on First Great Western's website nearly defeated the athlete-turned-politician and left her desperately frustrated.

Independent

His footsoldiers lurk in the bush, strike without warning, kidnap new recruits and disappear into the night.The army recently claimed to have "nearly defeated" the LRA.

The Economist

The Intrepid survived five kamikaze attacks during the Second World War, but it was nearly defeated by far less deadly challenges: in 1985 the museum filed for bankruptcy.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly defeated" to convey a sense of drama and close call, indicating that the subject was at a significant disadvantage but ultimately survived or avoided complete failure. This phrasing is effective in narratives and reports where emphasizing the near-miss is important.

Common error

While "nearly defeated" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or technical writing. More precise language might be preferable. For example, instead of "the proposal was nearly defeated", consider "the proposal barely passed" or "the proposal faced significant opposition".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly defeated" functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing the state of being close to defeat. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nearly defeated" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a situation where someone or something came close to losing or failing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media, to emphasize precariousness and tension. While versatile, it's best to avoid overusing it in very formal settings where more precise alternatives might be preferable. Remember to use this phrase to convey a sense of drama, indicating that the subject was at a significant disadvantage but survived. Some alternatives are ""almost beaten"", "narrowly lost", and "came close to losing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost beaten

Focuses on the action of being beaten, implying a close margin.

narrowly lost

Highlights the slim difference between winning and losing.

came close to losing

Emphasizes the proximity to defeat without actually losing.

on the verge of defeat

Indicates being at the very edge of losing.

teetering on the brink of failure

Suggests instability and a high risk of failing.

faced imminent defeat

Highlights the impending nature of the defeat.

was on the ropes

Uses a boxing metaphor to describe being close to defeat.

close to being vanquished

Uses a more formal word (vanquished) for defeated.

hanging by a thread

Illustrates the fragility of the situation.

barely escaped defeat

Stresses the escape from being defeated.

FAQs

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

You can use "nearly defeated" to describe a situation where someone or something came very close to losing or failing, but ultimately didn't. For example, "The army was "almost beaten", but they managed to rally and win the battle."

What are some alternatives to saying "nearly defeated"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "narrowly lost", "came close to losing", or "on the verge of defeat".

Is "nearly defeated" grammatically correct?

Yes, "nearly defeated" is a grammatically correct phrase in English. It combines the adverb "nearly" with the past participle "defeated" to modify a noun or pronoun.

What is the difference between "nearly defeated" and "completely defeated"?

"Nearly defeated" means someone or something came close to losing but did not, while "completely defeated" means they lost entirely. "The team was "nearly defeated" but pulled through", versus "The army was "completely defeated" and forced to surrender".