giant-killers
Davids defeating Goliaths
Giant-killers are those who defeat much stronger opponents—named for David's slaying of Goliath.
The term appears most often in sports, where underdog teams upset heavily favored rivals: The fifth-seed giant-killers knocked out the defending champions.
It extends to business, politics, and any arena where the weak overcome the powerful.
Rags-to-riches heroine
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- minnowSmall freshwater fish
little guy · challenger · lightweight · small fry · rank outsider · unknown · underestimated · overlooked
Masculine Hebrew name
- GoliathBiblical giant warrior
- slingshotForked projectile launcher
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- fableMoral tale with animals
saga · epic · tale · biblical · mythology · folklore · parable · allegory
Violent sudden disturbance
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
bewilderment · thunderbolt · turnabout · turnaround · reversal · sensation · bolt from the blue · banana skin
Multi-round competitive event
- bracketSupport or category
- cup tieTournament elimination match
- qualifierWord or phrase limiting meaning
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
championship · knockout · matchup · elimination · finals · semifinal · quarterfinal · fixture
Cinderella
Rags-to-riches heroine
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- outsiderOne excluded from group
minnow · little guy · challenger · lightweight · small fry · rank outsider · unknown · underestimated · overlooked · outmatched
David
Masculine Hebrew name
fable · saga · epic · tale · biblical · mythology · folklore · parable · allegory · archetype
shock
Violent sudden disturbance
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
disbelief · bewilderment · thunderbolt · turnabout · turnaround · reversal · sensation · bolt from the blue · banana skin · scalp
tournament
Multi-round competitive event
- bracketSupport or category
- cup tieTournament elimination match
- qualifierWord or phrase limiting meaning
playoffs · championship · knockout · matchup · elimination · finals · semifinal · quarterfinal · fixture · draw
victory
Defeating an opponent
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- slayingAct of killing
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
takedown · overthrow · defeat · prevail · surmount · conquer · fell · slay · dispatch · eliminate
giant-killersfavorites
Most preferred choices
top seeds · frontrunners · sure things · defending champions · bankers
giant-killersgiants
Beings of immense stature
Goliaths · titans · behemoths · powerhouses · juggernauts
giant, killer, giants, kill, kills, killed, killing, killers, gigantic