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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in canes
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 knocks
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 licks
to strike repeatedly
batted the piñata until it finally broke open
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bats
Derek Vanriper, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Now the two teams will be hoping to get their bats into high gear from the beginning.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Ornelas, a Tijuana native, made his big-league debut last season, logging one hit in 16 at-bats.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
As players started to trickle out of the clubhouse with bats and gloves in for the Cubs’ first full-squad workout yesterday, Chairman Tom Ricketts stood off to the side, taking in the scene.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
With better lineups to come, finding more consistent dominant stuff may be necessary; otherwise, the Aggies' bats won't be able to afford a day off at the dish.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Just two at-bats, in fact, as a starter for Baltimore last season.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Fernández has demonstrated some pop in the minors, totaling 77 dingers over 1,816 at-bats for the Rockies’ affiliates.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
No one, in this room of 150-plus diners, bats an eye.
—Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Malice bats third to effortlessly deliver some of his best lyrical work from Let God Sort Em Out.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
Mookie Betts, who bats directly behind Ohtani, is just 3-for-23 in this Fall Classic.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
However, this one bats a pretty impressive average, and the triptych structure keeps things moving at a nice clip.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer emphasized that the Pirates' toughest free agency decision will be figuring out which bats the team can acquire to back Skenes.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
And yet when an athlete expresses that same sentiment, nobody bats an eyelash.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
He is preferred to Crow-Armstrong and is worth pushing up roughly half a round over other bats because of his elite contact quality, youth and multi-category upside.
—Derek Vanriper, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Now the two teams will be hoping to get their bats into high gear from the beginning.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Ornelas, a Tijuana native, made his big-league debut last season, logging one hit in 16 at-bats.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
As players started to trickle out of the clubhouse with bats and gloves in for the Cubs’ first full-squad workout yesterday, Chairman Tom Ricketts stood off to the side, taking in the scene.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
With better lineups to come, finding more consistent dominant stuff may be necessary; otherwise, the Aggies' bats won't be able to afford a day off at the dish.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Just two at-bats, in fact, as a starter for Baltimore last season.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Fernández has demonstrated some pop in the minors, totaling 77 dingers over 1,816 at-bats for the Rockies’ affiliates.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
If Roberts bats Tucker second and Smith fifth, Freeman would likely take over as the cleanup hitter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
No one, in this room of 150-plus diners, bats an eye.
—Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Malice bats third to effortlessly deliver some of his best lyrical work from Let God Sort Em Out.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
Mookie Betts, who bats directly behind Ohtani, is just 3-for-23 in this Fall Classic.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
However, this one bats a pretty impressive average, and the triptych structure keeps things moving at a nice clip.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer emphasized that the Pirates' toughest free agency decision will be figuring out which bats the team can acquire to back Skenes.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
And yet when an athlete expresses that same sentiment, nobody bats an eyelash.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
-
Embracing these ideas wholeheartedly, Yoshida’s borderline psychotic reimagining of the tale is both highly symbolic and totally riveting.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
While Hadari is rebranding as YH Studios, his creative voice remains unchanged, clearly influenced by Browne in his fusion of the sartorial with the slightly psychotic.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For a man who spent years absorbing hits from some of the biggest, fastest athletes on the planet in the NFL, comparing bobsledding to being back on the football field speaks volumes about the forces involved in the sport.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the draft report, responsibility for disasters would largely shift to states, which have long relied on the federal government to help survivors when a flood, hurricane or wildfire hits.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some guests will be elderly with walkers and canes.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Grape vines are the most productive when they're pruned back to about 10 to 12 canes with just 4 to 5 buds each.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her child’s classmates now discuss what to do if ICE knocks on their door.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Before the Michigan game, the main knocks against Fears were his penchant for trash talk on the court and his ability to pester opponents and draw fouls on them.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Over the course of extended scenes, the eye roams the frame, alighting on the pop of natural and manmade details alike.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the second—and maddest—section of the poem, the narrator, having fled in panic to France, roams the Breton shoreline.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Pederson is something of a mad scientist with bats.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s beloved novel has been driving people mad since the project was first announced.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the first half, both teams traded blows, with the largest lead being seven by the Bulldogs.—
Mukala Kabongo,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
He is seen performing first aid, administering back blows to the infant to remove the blockage.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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