Synonyms of batter

batter

verb

ˈba-tər 

1

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly

children battered the piñata until it broke open

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lick
• pound
• lash
• bat
• whip
• hide
• beat
• hit
• punch
• pelt
• assault
• knock
• attack
• do
• slap
• spank
• thump
• curry
• smash
• box
• paddle
• slam
• slate
• punch out
• maul
• chop
• pummel
• belt
• club
• lather
• hammer
• tan
• lace
• buffet
• raid
• storm
• smack
• work over
• wallop
• birch
• thrash
• rough (up)
• bludgeon
• switch
• whale
• baste
• whop
• bash
• whack
• pommel
• drub
• thresh
• swipe
• bung up
• beat up on
• whup
• slog
• wound
• fib
• crack
• belabor
• flog
• lambaste
• mess (up)
• cane
• paste
• sock
• descend (on or upon)
• leather
• strap
• cudgel
• jump (on)
• tromp
• swat
• rush
• lay on
• cuff
• thwack
• clout
• pounce (on or upon)
• beset
• clobber
• assail
• wham
• whomp
• lam
• bust
• blackjack
• horsewhip
• scourge
• flagellate
• rawhide
• gore
• lacerate
• cowhide
• mutilate
• pistol-whip
• maim
• fustigate
• mangle

2

as in to bomb

to use bombs or artillery against

planes battered the city for weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bomb
• shell
• attack
• blitz
• bombard
• cannonade
• blitzkrieg
• pound
• assault
• rake
• hit
• ravage
• strafe
• enfilade
• strike
• assail
• devastate

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

Recent Examples of batter

The subsequent sell-off in AI stocks battered shares of Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX (SPCX), his two public companies, both of which fell more than 12% in the first two days of trading since the midterms. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

By October, both men were battered and bruised, approaching the shores of Lake Tanganyika. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026

Despite the positive results, investors battered Moderna's stock after part of the data was leaked on social media just days before trial investigators were set to present it at a European medical conference. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Rising borrowing costs had already battered debt-heavy AI companies, while the Nasdaq was already more than 8 percent below its October 6 peak on Election Day. — David Averre, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026