Utspelad

Utspelad is a Swedish adjective meaning outplayed, overwhelmed by an opponent’s performance in a game, match, or other competitive situation. It describes a scenario in which one side performs significantly better than the other, leaving the latter largely unable to respond or threaten the result. The term is common in sports journalism, but it can also be used more broadly to describe a one-sided performance in other contexts, such as debates or performances.

Etymology and form: utspelad is formed from the verb utspela, with the prefix ut- meaning out. The word is the past participle of utspela and is used adjectivally. Agreement variants include utspelad (en-ord), utspelat (ett-ord) and utspelade (plural).

Usage: In practice, you will hear phrases like "laget var utspelat" or "motståndarna spelade ut vårt försvar." The expression emphasizes pressure, tempo and control by the dominant side. Figuratively, one can say "denna kandidat blev utspelad i debatten" to indicate a one-sided argument.

Related terms and nuance: Utspelad conveys a more concrete, performance-based sense of failure than terms like "förlorade" or "misslyckad." Synonyms include överlägsen and dominerande, while "besegrad" describes the result rather than the quality of play.