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.

So sore loser or not, he tapped into a lack of faith in elected officials and simmering frustration with City Hall, which happen to be the essence of today’s column.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026

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

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2025

The World Conker Championships has said accusations of cheating come from a "sore loser".

From BBC • Oct. 15, 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

Yes, I'm a sore loser, if that's what you wanna call it.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds

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