outmanned
Short on troops
Outmanned means outnumbered in personnel or manpower.
A military unit outmanned by the enemy faces superior numbers.
The term extends beyond combat to any situation where one side lacks sufficient people: We were outmanned and outgunned from the start.
Often paired with similar compounds like outgunned or outmatched to emphasize disadvantage.
Lacking sufficient staff
- outgunnedInferior in armament
- outnumberedExceeded in count
- understaffedInsufficient employees for workload
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
fewer · disadvantaged · overwhelmed · overmatched · outflanked · surrounded · besieged · encircled
Inferior to one's opponent
- outclassedBeaten by superior competition
- outgunnedInferior in armament
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
- defeatedOvercome in contest
beaten · bested · vanquished · overcome · subdued · overwhelmed · crushed · routed
Misjudged as inferior
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- minnowSmall freshwater fish
overmatched · outclassed · scrappy · defiant · resilient · understrength
shorthanded
Lacking sufficient staff
- outgunnedInferior in armament
- outnumberedExceeded in count
- understaffedInsufficient employees for workload
depleted · fewer · disadvantaged · overwhelmed · overmatched · outflanked · surrounded · besieged · encircled · swarmed
outmatched
Inferior to one's opponent
- outclassedBeaten by superior competition
- outgunnedInferior in armament
- dominatedControlled or overpowered
defeated · beaten · bested · vanquished · overcome · subdued · overwhelmed · crushed · routed · trounced
underestimated
Misjudged as inferior
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
minnow · overmatched · outclassed · scrappy · defiant · resilient · understrength
outmannedoutnumbering
Having superior numbers
overmanned · reinforced · bolstered · augmented · overstaffed
outmannedreinforced
Made more resistant
bolstered · supported · strengthened · fortified · backed up
man, manly, manhood, mans, manned, manpower, unmanned, manning, outmaneuver