lose-lose

Meanings

adjective

Having negative outcomes for both or all parties involved; having multiple outcomes that are all bad.
"It's a lose-lose situation. It can be turned into a win-win. We should be encouraging and supporting expensive bi-mode freight locomotives, especially where capacity is constrained.
2024 October 30, Paul Clifton, “How can freight be a major part of rail's future?”, in RAIL, number 1021, page 57
Antonyms: win-win

noun

abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of lose-lose situation: A situation that harms both or all parties involved, or one that has multiple outcomes that are all bad.
Antonyms: win-win

adjectiveHaving negative outcomes for both or all parties involved; having multiple outcomes that are all bad.

Opposite

Cite this entry

APA

lose-lose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lose-lose

MLA

“lose-lose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lose-lose. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lose-lose,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lose-lose.