Suffer defeat over in meeting - that's wretched (8)
I believe the answer is:
desolate
'wretched' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for desolate that I've seen before include "alone" , "Bleak, dismal; wretched" , "Bereft" , "Forlorn and unhappy" , "upset" .)