loser

/ˈluːzə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈluːzər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlü-zər/ (ame, mw)

loser — noun

  • losersingular
  • losersplural

1. someone who does not come out on top in a sports event, game, or any other compe

1.名詞A2
釋義

someone who does not come out on top in a sports event, game, or any other competitive activity

例句

After losing the chess championship, Esteban congratulated the winner like a true loser.

fixed expression: 'true loser' after a defeat

The visiting team were sore losers who kept arguing with the referee.

collocation: 'sore loser' for someone who complains after losing

同義詞
  • defeated contestant

    more neutral and less emotionally loaded than 'loser'

  • also-ran

    informal; specifically refers to someone far from winning, not just the runner-up

  • runner-up

    only the second-place finisher, not all defeated participants

反義詞
  • winner

    the person or team that actually wins

  • champion

    a winner who has defeated all opponents, especially in a tournament

  • victor

    more formal; used in military or competitive contexts

文法句型

a + loser

the + loser

用法筆記

Frequently paired with the adjectives 'bad' or 'sore' in the fixed expressions 'bad loser' and 'sore loser' to describe someone who reacts poorly to defeat.

常見錯誤

❌He was a loser of the race.
✅He was the loser in the race.
💡Use 'the' (definite article) and 'in' rather than 'a' and 'of' when specifying the competition.

2. a person who repeatedly fails to achieve goals or find success in life, especial

2.名詞B1
釋義

a person who repeatedly fails to achieve goals or find success in life, especially in activities most people manage without great difficulty

例句

Nila called herself a loser after eight months of failed job hunting.

collocation: 'call oneself a loser' for self-criticism

Vivek's uncle called him a loser for dropping out, yet he built a successful business.

contrast pattern: called a loser for X, but later Y

同義詞
  • failure

    more direct and general; can apply to a person or an attempt

  • underachiever

    less harsh; describes someone who could do better but does not try hard enough

  • nobody

    informal; emphasises lack of importance or status rather than repeated failure

反義詞
  • success

    can refer to a successful person without the harsh tone of 'winner'

  • achiever

    positive term for someone who reaches goals through effort

文法句型

a + loser

feel like + a + loser

用法筆記

Often used as a harsh criticism when the speaker has a low opinion of someone's repeated failures. Avoid in formal or professional contexts because it carries strong disapproval.

常見錯誤

❌She is a loser because she made one mistake on the test.
✅She felt like a loser after failing the same exam three times.
💡'Loser' in this sense implies a pattern of failure, not a single error.

3. someone regarded as worthless or deserving of scorn because of their dishonest,

3.名詞B2
釋義

someone regarded as worthless or deserving of scorn because of their dishonest, weak, or mean behaviour

例句

Roya told her brother the shoplifters he hung out with were pathetic losers.

insult pattern: 'pathetic losers' for moral disapproval

The coach called the player a loser for quitting on his teammates mid-match.

同義詞
  • good-for-nothing

    similar strength; emphasises uselessness rather than moral failing

  • waste of space

    very informal and harsh; suggests the person contributes nothing positive

  • scumbag

    stronger and more vulgar; implies serious moral depravity

反義詞
  • role model

    someone worthy of respect and admiration

  • decent person

    neutral positive description contrasting with the insult

文法句型

a + loser

a bunch of + losers

用法筆記

Strongly insulting. Distinguish from sense 2 (CHRONIC FAILURE): sense 2 focuses on lack of success, while this sense focuses on moral disapproval — the person is seen as weak, dishonest, or contemptible rather than merely unsuccessful.

常見錯誤

❌The politician is a loser because his policy failed.
✅The politician is dishonest, and many voters have lost respect for him.
💡Calling someone a 'loser' for a policy failure mixes up moral contempt (sense 3) with unsuccessful outcome (sense 2 or 4).

4. a person, group, or thing that ends up in a weaker position or suffers a disadva

4.名詞B2
釋義

a person, group, or thing that ends up in a weaker position or suffers a disadvantage as a result of a change, decision, or event

例句

When the department store closed its downtown location, the employees were the biggest losers.

pattern: 'the biggest losers' in business context

In trade disputes, consumers often end up as losers when import prices rise.

同義詞
  • victim

    stronger; implies harm was done, not just disadvantage

  • casualty

    common in economic or political contexts; suggests serious negative impact

  • sufferer

    focuses on the experience of harm or loss

反義詞
  • beneficiary

    someone who gains from the same process

  • gainer

    shorter term; used in financial or competitive analysis

文法句型

the + losers

the biggest + losers

用法筆記

Unlike the other senses, this one can refer to non-human entities such as industries, regions, or even animals. Frequently appears in economic, political, and environmental reporting. Often used in the plural form 'losers'.

常見錯誤

❌The environment was the loser of the new law.
✅The environment was one of the losers under the new law.
💡Use 'under' or 'in' rather than 'of' to describe who suffers from a policy or decision.