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sore loser

American

[sawr loo-zer] / ˈsɔr ˈlu zər /

noun

a person who is habitually angered, irritated, or annoyed when they do not win something or gain a desired advantage.

There is no point in being a sore loser and whining about it all.
You can't call him a sore loser—he accepts defeat with grace and dignity.

Etymology

Origin of sore loser

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lashing out like this now is simply being a sore loser.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2025

“I would just say me being a sore loser is probably something that’s not my best attribute,” Foster said, “but, you know, I’m a competitor so it comes with that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2024

Gaines’ critics often accuse her of being a sore loser, but she didn’t lose to Thomas: They tied for fifth.

From Washington Times • Dec. 28, 2023

Meanwhile, Fury labelled his opponent "a sore loser" and said he was "done with crossover boxing".

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2023

“She’s an emu-raffe, which is a bit like a donkey and a giraffe put together, only with fewer legs and a peevish temper. She’s a terrible sore loser at cards,” he added in a whisper.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023