BESTED Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

bested

verb

past tense of best

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

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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 Democrat Xavier Becerra, who along with Republican Steve Hilton, bested Bianco in California’s June primary, is listed as an attorney on the voting rights case. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 But hearing Alaimo nail Jackson’s tune bested the financial windfall. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Osceola Board of County Commissioners, District 4 Downey bested two fellow Democrats in the county commission race, while Shroyer defeated a rival Republican. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 Kelly bested Schmidt by 22,258 votes in the last gubernatorial election. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Although Kent struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong in his first two at-bats, the center fielder bested the rookie in the fifth inning with a game-tying RBI double. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 But Team Chevy came along and bested the Blue Oval’s Nurburgring record, not once but twice, two months later. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026 The Thunder — which Florida bested Friday — faced the Austin Gamblers, the Nashville Stampede saw the Rattlers, the Oklahoma Wildcatters battled the Carolina Cowboys and the Arizona Ridge Riders took on the Kansas City Outlaws. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Brand New Day scored the best-ever domestic box office sums for a Monday and a Tuesday on its way to becoming the second-fastest feature to cross the billion-dollar mark globally after reaching the threshold in six days, bested only by Endgame. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bested

Verb

Tysie Gallagher, Terri Harper and Caroline Dubois beat Americans Brandi Robinson, Miranda Reyes and Amelia Moore, respectively, earlier in the night, while Reina Tellez defeated Jessica Barry for the United States’ only victory.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Taylor pitched a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings and was credited with the win as the Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 in front of 28,140.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of defeated

Verb

Jon Batiste is one of the most interesting contemporary musicians out there, a musical prodigy who began performing at age 8 and has mastered multiple instruments.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Kids can try the sheet again and again until the facts are mastered.

— Nicole Harris, Parents, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of mastered

Verb

Joan Rubinger overcame a catastrophic biking accident that left her paralyzed to become an influential pain-relief specialist helping top-tier athletes get back on the field after acute and chronic injuries.

— Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Judith Kreeger overcame gender barriers, work challenges and a surprise career.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of overcame

Verb

She had been beaten and stabbed inside her home, and her body was then placed in the trunk of her car.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
Tysie Gallagher, Terri Harper and Caroline Dubois beat Americans Brandi Robinson, Miranda Reyes and Amelia Moore, respectively, earlier in the night, while Reina Tellez defeated Jessica Barry for the United States’ only victory.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of beat

Verb

Round 8 saw Itauma unleash a salvo of punches on Hrgović, who took them well.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The Falcons took a lengthy look at their starters and survived a second-half push to earn a 17-12 victory over the Dolphins on Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of took

Verb

When the islanders first got their phones back while in Fiji, Melanie had a video call with her sister in an unseen clip.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
The San Francisco 49ers got creative in managing some tough cuts Sunday afternoon to get down to a 53-man roster, letting go of their punter and long snapper.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of got

Verb

Around midnight on Friday morning, a member of a team dispatched to monitor the lake told CCTV the barrier forming the lake stretched about 150 meters long and 40 or 50 meters high.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
The report states that on the morning of May 23, police were dispatched to Jacobs’ home near Green Bay because of a disturbance between Jacobs and a woman described as his girlfriend.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026