| DEFEATED | Beaten in a contest or battle (8) |
| LOSES | Is beaten in a contest (5) |
| HAMMERED | Utterly defeated in a contest or hit hard with a tool |
| DRAW | A tie in a contest; or, a raffle (4) |
| ADVERSARY | One's opponent in a contest or dispute (9) |
| BOUT | A stint of strenuous exercise or overindulgence, for example; a contest or match in boxing, fencing or wrestling; a curve in the side of a violin; or, an attack of illness, such as flu (4) |
| TUGOFWAR | Sport and former Olympic Game in which two teams compete or battle with a rope in a test of strength (3,2,3) |
| CONFLICT | A struggle or battle (8) |
| GAMBLING | The betting or staking of something of value. The outcomes of this activity may be determined by chance alone or by physical skill, training, or prowess in athletic contests, or by a combination of st |
| ATALANTA | In Greek myths, the woman craftily beaten in a running race by Hippomenes (8) |
| GAZUMPED | Beaten in a house purchase (8) |
| CHALLENGE | Summons to a contest or to fight a duel; or, a sentry's demand for identification or a password (9) |
| OUTFIGHT | Box or battle better |
| CERTAMEN | Contest or strife, friendly or otherwise |
| FAIRGAME | Reasonable sporting contest - or object of ridicule? (4,4) |
| INTERNATIONAL | A contest or game between two teams representing different countries in a sport (13) |
| BATTLE | Combat; military engagement; or, a contest or struggle generally (6) |
| VICTOR | Winner of a contest or conflict(6) |
| HEAVEHO | Expulsion from a contest or institution (5-2) |
| MEDAL | Award for winning a contest or commemorating an event (5) |
