overwhelming defeat

USAGE SUMMARY

"overwhelming defeat" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe a situation in which one side decisively defeated the other, for example: "The Blue team suffered an overwhelming defeat at the hands of their opponents, suffering an embarrassing 10-point deficit by the end of the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The effect was instantaneous — both bills went from easy sailing to overwhelming defeat.

The New Yorker

"I would call that a victory — an overwhelming defeat for the government".

The New York Times

He hailed the Hungarian uprising as an "overwhelming defeat for the Soviet Union".

The Guardian

The yes camp are heading of an overwhelming defeat in the referendum on the alternative vote.

The Guardian

All this culminated in the overwhelming defeat of the LDP in a series of local elections in July 2009.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His perceived inability to deal successfully with those problems led to an overwhelming defeat in his bid for reelection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Women's suffrage caused the overwhelming defeat of the Socialists in connection with the Los Angeles municipal election yesterday.

The New York Times

Rick Santorum, the Senate's most energetic social conservative, went down to overwhelming defeat — man on dog won't hunt, either, apparently.

The New Yorker

Napoleon's overwhelming defeat of the Prussians in the battle of Jena was followed by the rapid collapse of the state.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Conservatives then overtook Labor in the polls for the first time since their overwhelming defeat in the 1997 election.

The New York Times

The school voucher movement suffered a serious setback with the overwhelming defeat of voucher initiatives in California and Michigan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming defeat" to describe situations where the losing party was clearly and decisively outmatched, leaving no doubt about the outcome. It adds emphasis to the scale and completeness of the loss.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming defeat" to describe minor setbacks or situations where the loss was not particularly significant or decisive. This can create a sense of hyperbole and diminish the impact of the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming defeat" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "overwhelming" modifies the noun "defeat". It emphasizes the magnitude and completeness of the defeat. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overwhelming defeat" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a decisive loss. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It functions as a noun phrase, conveying a sense of completeness and magnitude in the defeat. Predominantly found in news and encyclopedia sources, it maintains a neutral register. For alternative expressions, consider "crushing defeat" or "resounding defeat" to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

crushing defeat

Emphasizes the devastating impact of the loss.

resounding defeat

Highlights the clarity and decisiveness of the loss.

decisive loss

Focuses on the conclusive nature of the outcome.

sweeping loss

Highlights the extent to which the loss impacted something.

humiliating loss

Stresses the shame and embarrassment associated with the defeat.

comprehensive loss

Highlights the broad scope of the defeat.

major setback

Indicates a significant hindrance to progress.

utter rout

Suggests a disorganized and chaotic defeat.

one-sided defeat

Emphasizes the imbalance in the competition.

total failure

Indicates a complete lack of success.

FAQs

How to use "overwhelming defeat" in a sentence?

You can use "overwhelming defeat" to describe situations such as: "The team suffered an "overwhelming defeat" in the championship game" or "The proposal faced an "overwhelming defeat" in the senate vote".

What can I say instead of "overwhelming defeat"?

You can use alternatives like "crushing defeat", "resounding defeat", or "decisive loss" depending on the specific context you're describing.

Which is correct, "overwhelming defeat" or "overwhelmed defeat"?

"Overwhelming defeat" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Overwhelmed defeat" is not a standard expression and would sound grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "overwhelming defeat" and "significant loss"?

While both phrases indicate a negative outcome, ""overwhelming defeat"" suggests a much larger and more decisive loss than "significant loss", implying a complete and thorough failure.