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
Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
The County Public Health Laboratory confirmed the infection in the bats.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Higashioka has five career at-bats against Sanchez and is 0 for 5 with three strikeouts; Jansen is 2 for 5.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Their bats are used around MLB.
—Nikki Dementri, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
The two are ostensibly competing for at-bats this spring, with Rushing billed as a top catching prospect and Smith locked up on a 10-year contract extension.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Owles proved that point Tuesday, batting leadoff and reaching base safely in five of six at-bats to spark Oswego East to an 18-7 nonconference victory over host West Aurora.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The Astros have suggested Paredes will move between first, second and third base and DH to get at-bats.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
The Venezuelan bats were live early, recording a hit in each of the first three innings.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
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
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
Noun
Strong spring training from bats Spring training isn’t the ultimate prognosticator of success, but the Rangers’ improvement at the plate could be something that carries over into the regular season.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
The County Public Health Laboratory confirmed the infection in the bats.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Higashioka has five career at-bats against Sanchez and is 0 for 5 with three strikeouts; Jansen is 2 for 5.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Their bats are used around MLB.
—Nikki Dementri, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
The two are ostensibly competing for at-bats this spring, with Rushing billed as a top catching prospect and Smith locked up on a 10-year contract extension.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Owles proved that point Tuesday, batting leadoff and reaching base safely in five of six at-bats to spark Oswego East to an 18-7 nonconference victory over host West Aurora.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The Astros have suggested Paredes will move between first, second and third base and DH to get at-bats.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
The Venezuelan bats were live early, recording a hit in each of the first three innings.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
-
The prescriptions for the anti-psychotic medications Nelson required twice daily were slow to be filled and forgotten on a desk in a corporate office.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
After inheriting her childhood home, an unsuspecting woman becomes the object of her psychotic neighbor’s obsession, spiraling her down a violent path of stalking and possession that can only lead her to an extremely bloody Christmas.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Offensively, Natalya Muzquiz led the way with 3 hits and 4 RBIs while allowing 3 earned runs as a pitcher.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Two of those hits were home runs and another was a double.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 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
-
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In the letter, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Hancock knocks Paxton for how his agency allowed a Houston Muslim school into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Mar. 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
-
Some celebrities have gotten mad at him about the interactions, and some of them laugh about it with him.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Us senior surfers need to stick together to hold off the hordes of nasty agro kidbots that are violently intent on world domination and the spread of nuclear surf rabies and mad Red Bull disease.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shesterkin’s first thought was about how big the 6-foot-6 Markström was, but the smaller goalie still managed to land the majority of the blows.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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