battered

adjective

bat·​tered ˈba-tərd 

1

: damaged or worn down by hard use

a battered old hat

a battered truck

2

: injured by repeated blows

the victim's battered body

a boxer's battered face

3

: subjected to repeated physical abuse

providing help for battered wives/children

… the store turned into an impromptu women's crisis center, where battered women and mothers trying to rescue their daughters from abusive dads gravitated.

—Donna Minkowitz

Examples of battered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Soon after, State Farm canceled Willard's coverage, leaving him with a battered roof that no other company would insure. —Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026

What needs no modification, however, is the battered dignity of Sam’s presence. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

On Monday—the moon’s day—we were introduced to a brown, battered world. —Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

However, the researchers identified some areas — including the lunar south pole, which NASA is eyeing for its first Artemis base — as being less battered. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing battered

• battered child syndrome
• battered woman syndrome

Rhymes for battered

• backscattered
• chattered
• clattered
• flattered
• mattered
• pattered
• scattered
• shattered
• spattered
• splattered
• tattered