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Glite Dictionary
no-win

no-win

16 6.5
A situation where every choice leads to failure or loss
  • adjective
  • /noʊ wɪn/
translation icon : sin salida
  • It's just a no-win situation where no matter what we decide, someone will be unhappy.
  • a no-win situation
  • a no-win scenario

No, this is a no win situation.

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Examples

  • The woman felt like she was sinning, but she was in a no-win situation.

    Blog text (34)

  • In one sense, the executive faces a no-win situation.

    Academic text (1994)

  • No, this is a no win situation.

    H3 Podcast

  • It's just a no-win situation.

    The Makeover (2013)

  • We're in a no-win situation.

    The Beautician and the Beast (1997)

  • Once the ratio gets to be greater than one, you quickly enter a no-win situation.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Yes, I understand that, but it is a no-win situation with limited resources.

    Blog text (23)

  • The Bush administration is in a no-win political situation when it comes to Iraq.

    Blog text (27)

  • To put it charitably, the United States may have placed itself in a classic no-win situation.

    Academic text (1991)

  • It's a no-win situation.

    It Could Happen to You (1994)

Synonyms

ill-fated
vsno-win
19 6.1

Likely to have very bad luck and end badly

expresses unavoidable failure or disappointment with no chance of success
doomed
vsno-win
7 4.9

Certain to have a bad end, like failure or destruction

states certain failure or disappointment without implying dramatic fate
unwinnable
vsno-win
6 4.6

Not possible to win

focuses on guaranteed failure or disappointment across situations not only contests

How Winnable

easy
∞ 1.0
winnable
14 4.0
doable
51 1.8
difficult
∞ 1.6
no-win
16 6.5

Surface Forms

no-win positive

Morphology

no-win = no + win (transparent) = no + win

The adjective is directly formed from the combination 'no' + 'win' meaning 'having no possibility of winning', which is obvious to learners who know 'no' and 'win'.

Etymology

No-win is made from the simple words no ('not any') and win ('victory'), so it literally says 'no chance to win'. Think of a game where every choice loses — that's why a no-win situation is one that cannot succeed.