BATS Synonyms: 354 Similar and Opposite Words

bats 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbats

Definition of bats

as in psychotic

unable to think in a clear or sensible way by film's end it's obvious that faded movie star Norma Desmond is completely bats

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bats

2 of 3

noun

plural of bat

as in hits

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

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as in canes

a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas

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bats

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of bat

as in knocks

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner batted the lamp off the table with one strike

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as in licks

to strike repeatedly batted the piñata until it finally broke open

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as in roams

to move about from place to place aimlessly on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside

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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 bats

Noun

While Bruce Hurst was shutting down our bats once again into the fourth inning, Ron Darling barely managed to make it that far in permitting a 3–0 Boston lead. — New York Daily News, 26 July 2026 The improvement in competitive at-bats and in-game adjustments have played an important role too. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 These reflect their echolocation calls away at an angle, rather than returning them, which can then cause bats to mistake this perpendicular echo pattern for open water or completely empty space. — Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Alongside Abrams and Griffin, Garcia’s name has also gained traction in trade talks as teams look for power bats. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 25 July 2026 The doors of the small white and grey wooden house stay tightly shut until a guide makes sure everyone is ready to enter; otherwise, its rooms quickly fill up with bats and insects. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2026 So far in 2026, at least 22 bats have tested positive for rabies, whereas 21 rabid bats were reported in all of 2025. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 Their only hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position was Cronenworth’s bunt single in the sixth inning that moved France to third base just before Miguel Andujar grounded into an inning-ending double play. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 During his near-perfect outing against the Athletics on July 5, the Dominican native repeatedly worked through deep counts without allowing the at-bats to speed him up. — Tyler M. Carmona july 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Verb

The Phillies could use another outfielder, preferably one who bats right-handed. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 16 July 2026 The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior first baseman not only starts but also bats cleanup for the Wildcats, who have returned to the state semifinals. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 With the light nearly gone — the UMass Dartmouth field doesn’t have lights — Callahan silenced the Raiders bats one more time and this eventually led to the decision to pause the game. — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026 Schmidt, who bats and throws left, led off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single to right field. — Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 Inés has been raised in a world of strange ellipses, and hardly bats an eye when the hotel bartender goes quiet after someone mentions his missing brother, but Hanna (Maia Rae Domagala) is a different story. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Jordan Woolery, who bats behind her at third in the lineup, has 107 RBIs and was the Big Ten Player of the Year. — ABC News, 10 May 2026 Altuve bats fifth For the first time in his career, Altuve started a regular-season game batting in the fifth spot in the lineup. — Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026 Peralta then was replaced by left-hander Brooks Raley, and Kelly was sent up to hit for Moisés Ballesteros, a rookie who bats from the left side. — CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats

Adjective

Prosecutors, meanwhile, contend Clancy intentionally planned the killings and was not acting under the effects of a psychotic break, according to the AP.

— Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
The Drug Enforcement Administration says kratom produces stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses, and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence.

— Jake Rosenwasser, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Definition of psychotic

Noun

Protesters clashed briefly with police on the streets of New Delhi late Wednesday, with officers firing tear gas and wielding canes to push them back.

— Reuters, NBC news, 23 July 2026
As a final tip, separate new canes and fruiting canes to make pruning easier for yourself down the road.

— Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 18 July 2026

Definition of canes

Verb

One of the marks of Charles is his ability to keep getting up when the world knocks him down.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026
Thekla then strikes Nightingale with the microphone and attempts to hit her with the championship belt, but Nightingale knocks her away.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of knocks

Verb

North Carolina will be under the microscope as long as Bill Belichick roams the sidelines in Chapel Hill.

— Antonio Morales, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Today, the herd roams the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and is managed in partnership with the local fire company, which hosts the annual pony swim—a beloved local tradition.

— Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026

Definition of roams

Adjective

But Carveout 2160 is a new IP in snowboarding, which was responsible for the fastest and maddest games of the era.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Tamra is right; Shannon and some of the other cast are looking for things to get mad about, taking tiny things and blowing them up.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Definition of mad

Noun

The eighth and final reprieve followed an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Pardons at which a State Police major, who believed Smith was innocent, nearly came to blows with Smith’s prosecutor, who was just as convinced of Smith’s guilt.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

Definition of blows

Cite this Entry

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“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of bats

adjective

noun

verb

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