as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
the forfeit for each baseball player involved in the brawl was $5,000
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
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as in to lose
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forfeit
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025
Tax-paying clubs who sign a player from another team who has rejected a qualifying offer forfeit $1 million in international bonus pool money as well as two draft picks, whereas non-payers only forfeit one draft pick and in some cases $500,000 in bonus pool funds.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Lose an ounce, and their lives are forfeit.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forfeit
Noun
In 2021, Nolan forfeit three games due to use of ineligible players and, in 2023, the program failed to win a game.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025
Tax-paying clubs who sign a player from another team who has rejected a qualifying offer forfeit $1 million in international bonus pool money as well as two draft picks, whereas non-payers only forfeit one draft pick and in some cases $500,000 in bonus pool funds.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Patriots also had to forfeit their first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Lose an ounce, and their lives are forfeit.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forfeit
Noun
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The child may use the money without penalty to help pay for college or buy a first home.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
That first penalty was decisive and controversial.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The case was decided by a judge rather than a jury after Duran waived his right to a jury trial.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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Defendants found guilty of capital murder in cases in which the state has waived the death penalty and in which the defendant was older than 18 at the time of the crime are automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s no way to replace all that was lost in less than two weeks, but Smook has been heartened by the support.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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That is the case in this Tuesday night matchup, as the Lakers are on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-110, on Monday night in Los Angeles.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For a 10-surprise-course fine-dining experience, visit Quila.—
Juliet Kinsman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
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The $50,000 fine is for a first offense, and that amount doubles after a school’s second.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Losses could put the tech firms on the hook for billions of dollars in damages and force them to change their platforms.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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If the companies are found liable, the jury will consider whether to award Kaley damages for pain and suffering, and could also impose punitive damages.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In a complaint filed in June 2024, the group accused him of improperly retaining copies of the album after the criminal court ordered its full forfeiture.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2026
-
These vehicles, and potentially additional vehicles sold through this dealership, present a significant risk to innocent purchasers, who may unknowingly buy vehicles subject to seizure and forfeiture, resulting in both the loss of the vehicle and associated funds due to their status as contraband.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfeit. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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