When describing a close loss, there are several synonyms that can be used instead of the phrase "barely defeated". For instance, the term "narrowly beaten" describes a situation in which the difference in score or performance was minuscule. "Almost won" and "came close" convey the close calls and high level of effort that went into the effort, without emphasizing the negative outcome. "Lost by a hair" and "fell just short" also provide slightly different nuances to the experience of coming close to victory. Ultimately, choosing a synonym for "barely defeated" depends on the context and tone of the situation, but there are plenty of options available to convey the essence of a close defeat.