as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bested
James Warren doubled, drove in two runs and finished with two hits as Mansfield (1-0) bested Oliver Ames 9-3 in Hockomock League action.
—
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
In the round of four, Kegel's Inn handily bested Clifford's Supper Club with almost 75% of the votes.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Tracy, an attorney who led the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024, bested five other candidates in the GOP's primary.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Hilary Swank bested her for the first two, while Natalie Portman and Emma Stone beat her out for the honor for the third and fourth time, respectively.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Their pitchers struck out 49 batters and walked only eight, numbers bested only by the American staff.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The stretch for Summit has been nothing short of dominant, as playoff opponents have been bested by 17 points or more.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
In one of the most thrilling games of the season, the Ducks bested the Canadiens in a shootout on Friday night.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Nevertheless, Iran has been bested at the operational level of war, and its air and naval forces cannot offer meaningful resistance.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
In the round of four, Kegel's Inn handily bested Clifford's Supper Club with almost 75% of the votes.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Tracy, an attorney who led the Illinois Republican Party from 2021 to 2024, bested five other candidates in the GOP's primary.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Hilary Swank bested her for the first two, while Natalie Portman and Emma Stone beat her out for the honor for the third and fourth time, respectively.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Their pitchers struck out 49 batters and walked only eight, numbers bested only by the American staff.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The stretch for Summit has been nothing short of dominant, as playoff opponents have been bested by 17 points or more.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
In one of the most thrilling games of the season, the Ducks bested the Canadiens in a shootout on Friday night.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Nevertheless, Iran has been bested at the operational level of war, and its air and naval forces cannot offer meaningful resistance.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bested
Verb
-
It was defeated on a straight party-line vote, and our highly ideological legislature kept the gap between Title IX and Colorado law unresolved.—
Lisa Frizell,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In the men’s final Monday, Connecticut and Michigan will play for the national championship after both roundly defeated their opponents in the semifinals.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Amanda Peet shows she's mastered her street style in New York City on March 31.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The same can be said of Underwood, who has mastered the art of the pained expression like no one in the Big Ten since Bobby Knight.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly's snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly’s snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Suns then tied the game at 94-94 after Jordan Goodwin beat the buzzer with a corner triple to end the period.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Keller stymies defending champ Coppell Claire Garritson scored the game-winning goal in the second half and Keller hung on to beat defending state champion Coppell 2-1 in the Class 6A Division 1 Region 1 Final on Tuesday night at Keller High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bondi took her marching orders and launched investigations of those the president named.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Idaho State troopers, who handle law enforcement duties at the Capitol, took the nine protesters into custody.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Japanese conquered the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
By the 1770s, Linnaeus had pretty much conquered Europe—all, that is, except for the King’s Garden in Paris, where Georges Buffon, the garden’s director, adamantly rejected his system as arbitrary and artificial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The right-handed Bird got ahead of pinch-hitter Graham Pauley with two quick strikes.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
It's got nearly 1,800 connections and many thousands of residences to serve.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nine months after Harold's death, Nicholson was monitoring a call where investigators were dispatched to a break-in at Marsha's.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Small groups of visitors will be dispatched with a Hogwarts professor to take part in a 12-minute experience throughout the Wizarding World with interactive moments involving the use of magic wands.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bested. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
