battering

noun

bat·​ter·​ing ˈba-tə-riŋ How to pronounce battering (audio)
1
: violent physical abuse that usually involves the act of striking someone repeatedly or heavily in order to cause injury
Feminists turned violence against women, previously a well-kept secret, into a public political issue; made rape, incest, battering and sexual harassment understood as crimes; and got public funding for shelters for battered women.The Nation
2
: a damaging experience or situation : an injury, setback, or defeat
That was the year Canada rebounded from a 28–4 battering in the round-robin to beat the U.S. 17–16 in the championship final …Bob Kravitz
While her confidence took a battering [=was damaged], she kept a game face throughout the season.Sally Bedell Smith

Examples of battering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The whole film industry has taken such a battering and there are so many factors that have contributed to that – Covid, the strikes and the way people consume content have all had a lasting effect on the market. Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 14 May 2025 Without this buffer, waves would crash harder against the shore, stripping away sand and battering cliffs. Avery Schuyler Nunn, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025 Better explained, tension builds until there is a battering incident. Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2025 Adrian was arrested in connection with first-degree domestic battering and first-degree terroristic threatening, both felony charges. Annette Beard, arkansasonline.com, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for battering

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of battering was in 1542

Cite this Entry

“Battering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battering. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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