batter

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb batter contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of batter are cripple, maim, mangle, and mutilate. While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate.

an old ship battered by fierce storms

When is cripple a more appropriate choice than batter?

The synonyms cripple and batter are sometimes interchangeable, but cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg.

crippled for life in an accident

When can maim be used instead of batter?

While in some cases nearly identical to batter, maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence.

maimed by a shark

When is it sensible to use mangle instead of batter?

In some situations, the words mangle and batter are roughly equivalent. However, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

In what contexts can mutilate take the place of batter?

Although the words mutilate and batter have much in common, mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function.

a tree mutilated by inept pruning

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 batter Iran retaliated against Israel for its surprise attack with over 100 ballistic missiles, and has battered the Jewish state with three barrages so far. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 June 2025 Aged air force In statements that have aged like milk, Iranian officials repeatedly reiterated in recent weeks that air defenses battered in the previous October strike were completely repaired and restored and the air force fully prepared to counter any threat. Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 Gulls peck through closed shutters and doors, determined to batter their way in. Tom Gliatto, People.com, 13 June 2025 Instead, it’s battered like tempura and cut into two pieces. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for batter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for batter
Verb
  • Two new friends spent the afternoon chatting, licking our deliciously unexpected delights and beginning a life-long bond.
    Susan Cunningham Euker, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2025
  • The viral post opens with a quiet, intimate moment: the Labrador sits beside her puppy, gently licking her head.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • But those threats were beaten back in the last few years of war, and twice last year, Israel got practice rounds bombing Iran following Iranian missile fire.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 June 2025
  • But the Israel-Iran conflict − and Trump's decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites − has scrambled the high-stakes meeting as world leaders search for an endgame to the 12-day air war that's killed hundreds of people in Iran and dozens in Israel.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The left-hander got pounded a year ago and thumped again in his first taste of big-league action for eight runs in five innings against the Washington Nationals.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 26 June 2025
  • Kamala Harris pounded Joe Biden over his stances on busing from the 1970s—a long-ago dispute that even became fodder for J.D. Vance in 2024.
    Andrew Yang, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Saturday’s loss also saw Ryan Yarbrough shelled for the first time since the swingman entered the Yankees’ rotation.
    Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2025
  • Russian forces shelled Ukraine's southern Kherson region, killing three people and wounding 19 others, including two children, regional officials said Monday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • In one particularly jarring example, under threat of being unplugged, Anthropic’s latest creation Claude 4 lashed back by blackmailing an engineer and threatened to reveal an extramarital affair.
    Thomas Urbain, Fortune, 29 June 2025
  • The president also lashed out at economists who predicted his administration’s tariffs could cause a recession.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Turner, as the leadoff hitter, has a good view from the on-deck circle whenever Marsh is batting.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • Ella Mae Lipp, IF, Dr. Joaquin Garcia sophomore: Lipp had a breakout season, batting .441 with 27 RBIs.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The San Diego native whipped a low cross into the box, which both Adriana Leon and Ascanio narrowly missed.
    Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • Chelsea took the lead on 13 minutes when Neto raced away from deep inside the Flamengo half and opened his body before whipping the ball past Agustin Rossi.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The palette is a unique blend of pink, tan, and hints of blue-green that add a subtle amount of color while still hiding dirt and debris.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 26 June 2025
  • Weathered and bumpy, the wall hidden among the surplus clothing stores of the Fashion District was hardly the perfect canvas.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Batter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/batter. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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