defeat

1. (transitive) To overcome in battle or contest.Examples: "Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo."; "The Japanese defeated the Ming general Tsu Chʻeng-hsün 祖承訓 at Pʻing jang 平壤 in 1592, the first year of Bunroku 文祿 of Japan, and the fighting continued for some years; but at Hideyoshi's death the Japanese troops left Korea."; "My personal success or failure is insignificant; the rise or fall of the nation is my responsibility and must not be shirked. Upon introspection, I feel I am firmer than ever in confidence that the Communists will be defeated. These are feelings which will comfort Father's soul in Heaven."transitive

2. (transitive) To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.Examples: "He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes."; "In one instance he defeated his own purpose."transitive

3. (transitive) To nullifyExamples: "The escheators […] defeated the right heir of his succession."transitive