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 In 2024, the Niners were battered on both sides of the ball and ended up going 6-11 in spite of entering the campaign with Super Bowl aspirations. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025 Failing that, to batter you into submission, to convince you that Israel’s power and control is so great that it cannot be faced, and must only be endorsed or endured. Jack Sheehan september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025 While cruise line operators are enjoying a surge in popularity after the pandemic badly battered the industry—and Carnival itself reported an all-time high of $25 billion in annual revenue in 2024—investments in AI and other technologies could make travel by ship even more desirable. John Kell, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025 The Long Walk takes place in an alternate America in what looks like the ’60s or ’70s, one that’s been battered and economically devastated by an internal conflict. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for batter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for batter
Verb
  • That could look like gliding your fingers down them, kissing, licking, or gently biting those areas.
    Essence, Essence, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Go from the base to the tip with your tongue, kiss it, lick it and remember most of us have difficulties cumming just with oral.
    Ian Kumamoto, Them., 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For the first time, Israel launched an airstrike in Qatar, bombing a building in Doha that houses Hamas political leadership.
    Greg Dixon, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Israel has also regularly bombed the south.
    USA Today, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Not the grand slam that had Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal pounding his fist into his glove as Thomas circled the bases and Progressive Field erupted.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Eighteen students who fled from the shooting took shelter at a home just down the road, after an initial group of them pounded on the door asking for help, resident Don Cygan told 9News.
    Katie Langford, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Sixers are shelling it out for theirs.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Carefully slide the spoon between the whites and shell and apply light pressure to separate the two.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The View cohost Joy Behar's instincts as an Italian-American mama bear led her to lash out at Hollywood actor Martin Sheen over his handling of son Charlie Sheen's past substance addiction.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Ben-Gvir, who leads a small far-right ultranationalist party, lashed out at the court ruling Sunday.
    Natalie Melzer, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Everman defensive back Jarie Stafford batted away the fourth-down pass and the offense was able to run out the clock.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
  • And Bailey, a switch hitter, was batting from the right side against Scott.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • His best friend’s little sister sets out to whip him back into shape.
    Tessa Bailey, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Boaters were the last to be warned to watch the sky as a line of wind-whipping storms pushed out to sea.
    Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And now there’s another reason users may click to hide — dynamic pricing.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • And best of all, the mirror distracts guests from registering that there’s a coat hanger hiding ‘round back.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Batter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/batter. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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