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
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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
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
2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
batted the piñata until it finally broke open
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bat
Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Large flocks of birds — or swarms of bats or insects — at the right altitude and speed reflect enough energy to appear on radar much like a storm.
—Brandi D. Addison, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Edwards, the team’s leadoff man most of the season, batted third Friday for the fourth time in the past six games.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bat
Noun
Historically, Ohtani has misfired with the bat at Philadelphia – going into the game, none of his 250 career homers have come there.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Large flocks of birds — or swarms of bats or insects — at the right altitude and speed reflect enough energy to appear on radar much like a storm.
—Brandi D. Addison, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Anthony Whaley batted away a pass from Wood during a fourth-and-long sequence in the waning seconds, as his team held on to knock off the two-time reigning Div.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Edwards, the team’s leadoff man most of the season, batted third Friday for the fourth time in the past six games.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bat
Noun
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Yes, the Seahawks entered the game short-handed in the secondary, then suffered another blow when cornerback Riq Woolen suffered a concussion in the third quarter.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Business is booming, but President Chris Kohnle worries the 80-year-old, family-run establishment could soon take a blow.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Video from the protest showed the elderly and people with disabilities among those arrested, including a blind man using a mobility cane and two people in wheelchairs.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
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Sugar comes from sugar cane or sugar beets.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those boys, in theory, enjoy turning lights on and off and knocking things off the wall.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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One of the key pieces of evidence during the trial was a 2016 hotel security video of Combs kicking, punching and knocking Ventura to the ground; prosecutors also showed photos of bruising and other injuries that Ventura alleged were inflicted by Combs throughout their decade-long relationship.—
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In fact, the mischievous pup led his owner directly to the scene of the crime by licking his lips constantly, which seemed awfully curious.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Bear 856 is also a large, male brown bear, who is easily identifiable to park rangers due to the animal's unusual habit of licking his lips — a behavior not typically observed in brown bears.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One of the game's best sections – and one that probably plays really well in its VR counterpart – involves facehuggers and roaming around a hive unarmed while the Xenomorphs aren't a threat.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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In addition to yards of open grassy areas for Pickles and Franklin to roam freely, there is a pool, sauna, pickleball court, outdoor kitchen, and lots of shaded or umbrella-covered seating.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The dramatic thump of the ship’s four electromagnetic catapults which shoot them into the sky is constant and can be heard throughout the ship.—
Matthew Bodner,
NBC news,
25 Sep. 2025
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The Red Sox are in a good spot for their future, but their lineup clearly needs more thump.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After Bad Bunny kicks off Season 51, SNL will pass the baton to host Amy Poehler with musical guest Role Model, followed by Sabrina Carpenter‘s double-duty takeover as both host and musical guest.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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Which is why Marant and Bekker are on a Zoom call one recent morning to chat about the passing of the baton.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The ball popped up in the air and Bolton was there to grab it, except he was hit by teammate Drue Tranquill.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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Hikers hit Goat Trail Hill 'n Dale Hiking Club will hike Thursday along the Goat Trail to Steel Creek on the Buffalo National River.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bat. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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