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 The incident comes as two storms continue to batter the East Coast with rough surf. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 The country is also battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 The medical system in Gaza has been severely battered by Israeli bombardment. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025 On the other hand, distance requirements between more intense uses, such as shelters for the battered, could be cut by more than half, dropping from 1,320 feet to 600 feet, or even 300 feet if they’re separated by a major street. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for batter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for batter
Verb
  • In fact, the mischievous pup led his owner directly to the scene of the crime by licking his lips constantly, which seemed awfully curious.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Bear 856 is also a large, male brown bear, who is easily identifiable to park rangers due to the animal's unusual habit of licking his lips — a behavior not typically observed in brown bears.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Junta forces have bombed civilians in a bid to suppress rebellious provinces, killing thousands.
    Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
  • If Smith had bombed and Wilson had flourished in Denver, the stakes could have been high for Schneider.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The service itself pulsed with sound with horns blaring, drums pounding and voices rising in song.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Diego Morales Morales pounded pavement over the 12-month period, racking up $10,116 in fuel expenses alone traveling to various counties for meetings and events.
    Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Zach Agnos and Nick Anderson were both shelled in the seventh as Baltimore batted around in the frame, and then some.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
  • There might be larger NSRs These findings challenge existing models of nova recurrence and shell formation, indicating that nova systems may evolve more rapidly than previously thought.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The announcement from Iervolino, who is embroiled in financial litigation having recently parted ways with business partner Monika Bakardi, comes as AI actress Tilly Norwood has sparked backlash from the acting community, prompting SAG-AFTRA to lash out.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Imelda pulled away from the Bahamas Monday evening after lashing the islands with heavy rain, tropical storm-force winds and storm surge for two days.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Jace Jung batted for Carpenter in the seventh inning.
    Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Chicken broth comes next, get a quick simmer down, then the big flavor players come up to bat.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hakeem actually whipped his members to shut the government down.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Folding whipped topping gently into the pudding mixture keeps the filling fluffy and mousse-like.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Target’s sale has discounts on thousands of storage furniture pieces, like this soft and roomy fleece bench with a lift-top and this cabinet that discreetly hides and deodorizes trash cans.
    Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Johnson sat in the makeup chair for two hours undergoing a transformation process that resulted in the cauliflower ears, a specific browbone piece and other prosthetics, plus hiding his tattoos.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Batter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/batter. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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