Synonyms of bat

bat 1 of 2

noun

ˈbat 

1

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

a sharp bat with a rolled-up newspaper and that fly was a goner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• thump
• hit
• knock
• punch
• swipe
• slap
• whack
• thud
• stroke
• pound
• smack
• poke
• lick
• bang
• spank
• slam
• beat
• hook
• clip
• switch
• clap
• lash
• swat
• sock
• chop
• belt
• kick
• box
• cuff
• pelt
• bop
• crack
• stripe
• slug
• smash
• swing
• stinger
• welt
• thwack
• hack
• biff
• pick
• bash
• rap
• knee
• buffet
• clout
• dab
• bust
• plump
• wham
• wallop
• pounding
• fillip
• licking
• haymaker
• hand
• whop
• right
• beating
• left
• larrup
• douse
• counter
• hammering
• whip
• body blow
• uppercut
• roundhouse
• counterstroke
• shiver
• sucker punch
• whipping
• counterblow
• sidewinder
• knockdown
• thrashing
• KO
• one-two
• knockout
• rabbit punch
• battering
• counterpunch
• pummeling
• right-hander
• drubbing
• flogging
• pasting
• cruncher
• bludgeoning
• cudgeling
• clobbering
• kayo
• walloping
• bastinado
• lambasting

2

as in cane

a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment

riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cane
• baton
• mallet
• mace
• rod
• bludgeon
• cudgel
• billy
• hammer
• club
• nightstick
• truncheon
• billy club
• staff
• waddy
• rung
• bastinado
• shillelagh
• sap
• birch
• hickory
• beetle
• maul
• sledgehammer
• switch
• rattan
• blackjack
• gavel
• stave
• knobkerrie
• crook
• walking stick
• crosier
• crabstick
• whangee

bat

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to knock

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

batted the lamp off the table with one strike

Synonyms & Similar Words

• knock
• hit
• smack
• punch
• slap
• bang
• strike
• slam
• whack
• clap
• clip
• swipe
• pound
• crack
• box
• nail
• hammer
• kick
• swat
• thump
• bash
• clock
• tap
• flick
• tag
• lick
• slug
• sock
• bop
• whale
• thwack
• poke
• bludgeon
• smite
• jab
• belt
• clout
• shove
• clobber
• bob
• rap
• zap
• push
• chop
• stab
• wallop
• bonk
• stroke
• bust
• paste
• batter
• biff
• bump
• slog
• maul
• pepper
• bunt
• beat
• rough
• hang one on
• lash
• cuff
• pelt
• knee
• pummel
• stamp
• slash
• butt
• deck
• bung
• drub
• pommel
• mangle
• cane
• buffet
• club
• lace
• scuff
• skull
• whip
• dump
• floor
• cream
• brain
• spear
• fell
• bean
• switch
• lambaste
• cudgel
• sledge
• conk
• prod
• level
• knock down
• jostle
• sap
• flail
• bowl (down or over)
• thrash
• sledgehammer
• sucker punch
• flog
• rabbit-punch

2

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly

batted the piñata until it finally broke open

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lick
• lash
• batter
• pound
• hide
• whip
• knock
• hit
• pelt
• beat
• punch
• slap
• thump
• attack
• smash
• do
• assault
• hammer
• maul
• spank
• slam
• club
• paddle
• punch out
• box
• whale
• switch
• bash
• smack
• chop
• bludgeon
• slate
• raid
• whack
• curry
• belt
• pummel
• work over
• tan
• thrash
• birch
• drub
• wallop
• whop
• pommel
• storm
• lace
• swipe
• whup
• buffet
• thresh
• lather
• bung up
• swat
• wound
• beat up on
• slog
• flog
• rough (up)
• fib
• crack
• baste
• lambaste
• belabor
• tromp
• sock
• cane
• thwack
• cudgel
• leather
• cuff
• descend (on or upon)
• mess (up)
• strap
• clout
• clobber
• rush
• jump (on)
• lay on
• wham
• assail
• lam
• paste
• pounce (on or upon)
• bust
• whomp
• scourge
• cowhide
• beset
• horsewhip
• flagellate
• lacerate
• rawhide
• blackjack
• gore
• mutilate
• pistol-whip
• maim
• mangle
• fustigate

3

as in to roam

to move about from place to place aimlessly

on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roam
• wander
• stroll
• drift
• cruise
• float
• range
• rove
• knock (about)
• traipse
• meander
• saunter
• ramble
• kick around
• amble
• gad (about)
• gallivant
• mooch
• stray
• mope
• maunder
• tramp
• mill (about or around)
• dawdle
• hobo
• straggle
• vagabond

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bat

Noun

The bat is most commonly found throughout much of Mexico and in the southwest United States, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, per NABat. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026

The six accounts that the company’s moderators left up had shared many heinous videos, including a toddler being struck in the face with a frying pan, a girl being beaten with a baseball bat, and a baby being kicked. — Jon Christian, Futurism, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

Western Michigan appeared to have won 12-7 after batting down a Hail Mary attempt as time expired; however, the officiating crew ruled that 1 second remained, allowing Michigan to convert a 47-yard Hail Mary as time expired. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Sep. 2026

For the day, the Steelers had four sacks, four quarterback hurries, three additional tackles for loss and four passes batted down by defensive linemen, and four of Atlanta’s offensive linemen were called for holding at least once. — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing bat

• bat (around or back and forth)
• go to bat for
• off the bat