Synonyms for

Waterloo

Verb / ˈwɔ:tɜ:ˌlu: / Another word for waterloo — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a decisive or final defeat or setback

Synonyms & similar words

waterloo battleofwaterloo catastrophe disaster fiasco debacle tragedy defeat failure collapse ruin downfall overthrow loss beat licking whipping drubbing trouncing thumping annihilation massacre

Synonyms by register

Formal

defeat rout annihilation overthrow

Informal

downfall undoing bust wipeout

Literary

bane ruin perdition

Antonyms

victory triumph success win conquest ascendancy

Common collocations

  • meet one's waterloo
  • a decisive waterloo
  • face a waterloo
  • their waterloo
  • a final waterloo
  • the waterloo of

Word family

noun waterloo

Usage note

Waterloo is used metaphorically to describe a final, decisive defeat. It is often used in the phrase 'meet one's waterloo'.

Example sentences

  1. The football team suffered a waterloo in the championship game.
  2. The companys new product was a waterloo and led to their bankruptcy.
  3. The politicians scandal was his waterloo and ended his career.
  4. The army suffered a waterloo in the battle and was forced to retreat.
  5. The students poor grades were his waterloo and led to him failing the class.

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