beat off

as in to repel
to drive back the defense managed to beat off those offensive players who were taking shots at the goalie

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beat off On this play, Tegra Tshabola got beat off the ball, forcing Donaldson to take a different hole before running into a defender who center Carson Hinzman was on until the hole shifted. Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP What To Know Obama beat off stiff competition from the likes of David Attenborough and Tom Hanks to win the Outstanding Narrator prize for his narration of the five-part Netflix series Our Oceans, which examines marine life across the world's oceans. Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 In 2024, it was given to Netflix France series Class Act, which beat off competition from huge hits like The Bear, Beef and Succession. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025 Breathing problems which sent my heart beat off the charts. David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat off
Verb
  • The event was the latest public honoring of North Korean troops who fought in Russia to repel an incursion by Ukrainian forces.
    Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
  • These fabrics are known for repelling dust mites, mold, mildew, and other allergens much more effectively than traditional down.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For a full display, the set includes 12 bundles of flowers with brown faux eucalyptus leaves, and each piece is made from artificial silk and plastic designed to resist fading and damage from the sun and other weather conditions.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike a killer hiding in the woods, a guy who gets you in your dreams is literally impossible to hide from, and watching our plucky heroine Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) trying to resist sleep presents a new kind of awful torture.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Of course young voters are turning away from the president.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The Chicago Tribune reported at the time that although some families expressed interest in attending the execution, they were turned away ahead of time.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But this staredown came on the biggest stage of Toronto’s season, on a night when the pitcher turned back time.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • When do clocks turn back an hour in November?
    Chris Sims, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His family, dependent on his income and repulsed at what has become of their son, must then determine what is to be done with poor Gregor.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Ron spends a lot of time bouncing around the web, fascinated and repulsed in equal measure.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To stave off these injuries, IndyStar dug around and spoke with an expert at Purdue Extension about what Hoosiers can do to keep their plants safe and healthy.
    Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
  • In Yolo County, Baker is looking at the shutdown and the looming threat to CalFresh, the state program critical to helping low-income Californians stave off food insecurity, with a mix of anxiety and anger.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Beat off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat%20off. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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