verb

win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat.

Garibaldi defeated the Neapolitan army

beat,conquer,win against,win a victory over,triumph over,prevail over,get the better of,best,worst,vanquish,rout,trounce,overcome,overpower,overthrow,overwhelm,crush,quash,bring someone to their knees,quell,subjugate,subdue,repulse,lick,thrash,hammer,whip,wipe the floor with,walk all over,give someone a hiding,take to the cleaners,blow out of the water,run rings round/around,make mincemeat of,clobber,paste,pound,pulverize,crucify,murder,massacre,slaughter,demolish,drub,give someone a drubbing,cane,zap,flatten,turn inside out,tank,pwn,stuff,marmalize,blow out,cream,shellac,skunk,slam,own

noun

an instance of defeating or being defeated.

a 1–0 defeat by Grimsby

loss,beating,conquest,conquering,besting,worsting,vanquishing,vanquishment,game,set,and match,rout,trouncing,overpowering,subjugation,subduing,reverse,debacle,downfall,thrashing,hiding,drubbing,licking,hammering,whipping,clobbering,pasting,pounding,pulverizing,massacre,slaughter,demolition,caning,flattening,pwnage,ownage,failure,breakdown,collapse,ruin,lack of success,discomfiture,rejection,frustration,foundering,misfiring,overthrow,abortion,miscarriage,undoing,disappointment,setback