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
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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
Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
This free all-ages event will include birdwatching, stargazing via telescopes and a night hike where participants will try to spot scorpions, crickets and bats.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
But the Red Sox stayed patient and extended at-bats as Crochet did his job keeping the Brewers off the board for the first six innings.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Kyle Tucker struck out three times in his first four at-bats but gave the Dodgers some insurance with an RBI single off Jeff Hoffman in the ninth.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The Brewers had their own ace to play, though, and the Boston bats looked powerless against Jacob Misiorowski in the early innings.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
The buildings and bridges in cities become home to bats, birds, and other urban dwellers, at the cost of learning to use more natural nesting sites.
—Daniel T. Blumstein, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Zach Neto and Mike Trout were hitless in eight at-bats – with six strikeouts – before each singled in the ninth, down by five runs.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
The younger brother of former Giants catcher Andrew Susac singled in his first two big league at-bats off David Peterson (0-1), then drew a walk and singled off Sean Manaea.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Providence coach Jim Holba bats her out of the leadoff spot.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Obviously, there are ambitions for Broadway and the West End, but Tiffany bats such thoughts aside.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
The food chain is in full and pitiless effect, and no one bats an eye, or side-eyes a bat, when natural predatory impulses kick in.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Taylor bats leadoff for the presumptive Best Picture favorite.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
Ebola outbreaks are often triggered after contact with bats, which are sometimes eaten or used for traditional medicine.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
This free all-ages event will include birdwatching, stargazing via telescopes and a night hike where participants will try to spot scorpions, crickets and bats.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
But the Red Sox stayed patient and extended at-bats as Crochet did his job keeping the Brewers off the board for the first six innings.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Kyle Tucker struck out three times in his first four at-bats but gave the Dodgers some insurance with an RBI single off Jeff Hoffman in the ninth.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The Brewers had their own ace to play, though, and the Boston bats looked powerless against Jacob Misiorowski in the early innings.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
The buildings and bridges in cities become home to bats, birds, and other urban dwellers, at the cost of learning to use more natural nesting sites.
—Daniel T. Blumstein, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Zach Neto and Mike Trout were hitless in eight at-bats – with six strikeouts – before each singled in the ninth, down by five runs.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
The younger brother of former Giants catcher Andrew Susac singled in his first two big league at-bats off David Peterson (0-1), then drew a walk and singled off Sean Manaea.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Right fielder Kyle Tucker usually bats behind leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Providence coach Jim Holba bats her out of the leadoff spot.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Obviously, there are ambitions for Broadway and the West End, but Tiffany bats such thoughts aside.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
The food chain is in full and pitiless effect, and no one bats an eye, or side-eyes a bat, when natural predatory impulses kick in.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Taylor bats leadoff for the presumptive Best Picture favorite.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
-
People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Among prisoners, 8% had psychotic disorders, compared to less than 1% of the general population, the report said.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
López pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Kirby gave up six hits over eight innings in his second career complete game — both losses in eight-inning outings — as Mariners lost a series for the first time in 10 meetings with the Rangers going back to September 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This will help the remaining canes and new stems have the room to grow more easily.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Repeating this cycle helps replace older canes with new, stronger growth.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Victor Caratini, whose two-run single in the first inning gave the Twins some breathing room, hit a sacrifice fly earlier in the game and both Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis had RBI knocks for the Twins in the win.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
7 Apr. 2026
-
A lot of the low end on the production really knocks, too.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
6 Apr. 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
-
The five-person cast roams the room, sitting at various circular tables to blur the lines between script and improvisation.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
-
So this fox crossed an ocean to arrive in a borough where its own species already roams free.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Auriemma was also mad that Staley did not participate in the traditional Final Four handshake before the game after the coaches were announced, though Staley had shaken his hand earlier.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
-
How to break the car rental rage cycle Don't get mad.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But outside of these rare exceptions, Mario’s pugilism was quickly retired in lieu of hammer hits and kid-friendly blows.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As a new generation of commanders rises within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps following recent military blows under Operation Epic Fury, analysts warn that this ideology may become even more entrenched.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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