負け犬|まけいぬmakeinu[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounloser; failure; underdog; unsuccessful person; non-achiever; loser dog
   負け犬まけいぬになるわけにはいかない。↗

   I can't stand getting beaten.
2. noununmarried and childless older woman

• Synonym敗者はいしゃNeutralNeutral, objective word for the loser of a match or contest; unlike 「負け犬」 it carries no image of slinking off with the tail between the legs.
• RelatedくずNeutralLiterally waste or scrap; when hurled at people it means scum, and is far more insulting than 「負け犬」.
• Related出来損ないできそこないNeutralA botched or defective thing, or a good-for-nothing person; strongly insulting. It stresses being worthless or underachieving, not having lost a contest.
• Related落伍者らくごしゃWrittenWritten/formal prose term for someone left behind because they cannot keep up; stresses falling behind rather than losing.
• Related失敗者しっぱいしゃNeutralNeutral, objective word for someone whose attempt did not work out; free of the contemptuous coloring of 「負け犬」.
• Antonym勝者しょうしゃNeutralNeutral word for the winner of a match or contest, the direct opposite of the loser.
• Antonym勝ち犬NeutralA coinage modeled on 「負け犬」 for a winner in life; fairly colloquial.

For the loser of a match or contest stated objectively, use 「敗者」. Use 「負け犬」 when you want a contemptuous tone, as in 「負け犬の遠吠え」. To call someone scum, use 「クズ」; 「失敗者」 is a neutral word for someone who failed.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 喧嘩けんかに負まけて、尻尾しっぽを巻まいて逃にげる犬いぬ。
2. （比喩ひゆ）勝負しょうぶに負まけて、引き下ひきさがる者もの。敗残はいざん者しゃ。