were trounced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were trounced" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or a team has been defeated decisively or overwhelmingly, often in a competitive context such as sports or debates. Example: "The home team were trounced by their rivals, losing the match 5-0."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We were trounced".

The Guardian

That year, Republicans were trounced.

The New Yorker

Their candidates were trounced by the National League for Democracy.

The New York Times

That meant the biggest-spending conservative groups were trounced.

The New York Times

They were trounced on polling day a few weeks later.

The Economist

Italy were trounced, France stifled and now Germany are mortified.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet we were trounced by one of our own, a U.S. commonwealth.

The New York Times

In many parts of the country they clung on, in others they were trounced.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then the Giants were trounced in successive weeks by Washington and Tennessee.

The New York Times - Sports

See articleSupporters of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, were trounced in the country's parliamentary election.

The Economist

The Redskins were trounced by the Los Angeles Raiders, 38-9.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were trounced" to vividly describe a situation where there's a clear and substantial defeat. It adds more impact than simply saying "were defeated".

Common error

While effective, "were trounced" can sound informal. In formal or academic writing, consider using a more neutral phrase like "suffered a significant defeat" or "were overwhelmingly defeated" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were trounced" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject received the action of being defeated. It emphasizes the thoroughness of the defeat. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms the phrase's proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were trounced" is a grammatically correct and widely used passive verb phrase that vividly describes a decisive defeat. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use but may be less suitable for highly formal writing. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, particularly in sports reporting and political analysis. While alternatives like ""were soundly defeated"" or ""suffered a crushing defeat"" offer more formal options, "were trounced" provides a strong and impactful way to convey a significant loss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were defeated soundly

Emphasizes the decisiveness of the defeat.

were overwhelmingly beaten

Highlights the magnitude of the loss.

suffered a crushing defeat

Focuses on the damaging nature of the loss.

were routed

Suggests a complete and disorderly defeat.

were completely outplayed

Highlights the superior skill of the opponent.

were hammered

An informal way to say they were heavily defeated.

were annihilated

Implies total destruction or defeat.

were overpowered

Suggests the opponent's strength was too much to handle.

were conquered

Emphasizes the taking of control by the victor.

were thrashed

Another informal term for a severe beating or defeat.

FAQs

How can I use "were trounced" in a sentence?

You can use "were trounced" to describe a situation where someone or something was decisively defeated. For instance, "The visiting team "were trounced" by the home team in the final game."

What's a less informal way to say "were trounced"?

If you're looking for a less informal alternative, consider using phrases like "were overwhelmingly defeated", "suffered a crushing defeat", or "were soundly defeated".

Which is correct, "were trounced" or "was trounced"?

"Were trounced" is used for plural subjects, while "was trounced" is used for singular subjects. For example, "They "were trounced"" (plural) versus "The team "was trounced"" (singular).

What does it mean when something is described as "trounced"?

When something is described as "trounced", it means it was thoroughly and decisively defeated, often by a large margin. It suggests a significant imbalance in the competition.