giant-killer
Slays the favorite
A giant-killer is a person, team, or entity that defeats a much more powerful opponent.
The term evokes David slaying Goliath—the unlikely victor overcoming seemingly impossible odds.
Sports coverage favors the term when underdogs upset favorites: The fifth-seeded team proved to be giant-killers, knocking out the defending champions.
Masculine Hebrew name
- JackMale court card
- BeowulfOld English epic's protagonist
- PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
- ThorGermanic thunder deity
ogre · titan · behemoth · monster · troll · cyclops · Grendel · beanstalk
Disturb, topple, or shock
- darkhorseUnlikely winner, previously unknown
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- minnowSmall freshwater fish
- CinderellaRags-to-riches heroine
scrappy · challenger · outsider · insurgent · defiant · tenacious · resilient · determined
Disturb, topple, or shock
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- LeicesterEast Midlands county seat
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
shock · underdogs · unseeded · qualifier · minnow · elimination · tournament · March Madness
One who overturns norms
- startupNew business enterprise
- NetflixSubscription streaming service
- upstartArrogant recent success
- newcomerRecent arrival somewhere
challenger · innovator · disruption · competitor · nimble · agile · pivot · breakthrough
David
Masculine Hebrew name
Thor · ogre · titan · behemoth · monster · troll · cyclops · Grendel · beanstalk · slingshot
upset
Disturb, topple, or shock
Cinderella · scrappy · challenger · outsider · insurgent · defiant · tenacious · resilient · determined · perseverance
upset
Disturb, topple, or shock
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- LeicesterEast Midlands county seat
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
stunner · shock · underdogs · unseeded · qualifier · minnow · elimination · tournament · March Madness · FA Cup
disruptor
One who overturns norms
newcomer · challenger · innovator · disruption · competitor · nimble · agile · pivot · breakthrough · antitrust