The difference between Defeat and Slay
When used as verbs, defeat means to overcome in battle or contest, whereas slay means to kill, murder.
Defeat is also noun with the meaning: the act or instance of defeating, of overcoming, vanquishing.
check bellow for the other definitions of Defeat and Slay
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Defeat as a verb (transitive):
To overcome in battle or contest.
Examples:
"Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo."
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Defeat as a verb (transitive):
To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
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Defeat as a verb (transitive):
To nullify
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Defeat as a noun:
The act or instance of defeating, of overcoming, vanquishing.
Examples:
"The inscription records her defeat of the country's enemies in a costly war."
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Defeat as a noun:
The act or instance of being defeated, of being overcome or vanquished; a loss.
Examples:
"Licking their wounds after a temporary defeat, they planned their next move."
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Defeat as a noun (legal):
Frustration (by prevention of success), stymieing; nullification.
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Defeat as a noun (obsolete):
Destruction, ruin.
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Slay as a verb (now, _, literary):
To kill, murder.
Examples:
"The knight slew the dragon."
"Our foes must all be slain."
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Slay as a verb (literary):
To eradicate or stamp out.
Examples:
"You must slay these thoughts."
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Slay as a verb (by extension, colloquial):
To defeat, overcome (in a competition or contest).
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Slay as a verb (slang):
To delight or overwhelm, especially with laughter.
Examples:
"Ha ha! You slay me!"
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Slay as a verb (slang, ambitransitive):
To amaze, stun or otherwise incapacitate by awesomeness; to be awesome at something; to kill .
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Slay as a verb (slang):
to have sex with