Synonyms of beat
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as in to lick
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as in to defeat
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as in to surpass
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as in to throb
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as in to flutter
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as in to frustrate
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as in to draw
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as in to glow
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as in to drum
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as in to confuse
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as in to circumvent
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as in to grind
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as in to cheat
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as in blow
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as in pulse
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as in rhythm
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as in minute
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as in tired
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to surpass
to be greater, better, or stronger than
this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to flutter
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to circumvent
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
he spends all of his time trying to beat the system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
13
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered one hard beat on the drums
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pulse
a rhythmic expanding and contracting
a single beat of the heart is said to be all that separates the vice president from the presidency
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3
as in rhythm
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity
moved to the beat of the music
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4
as in minute
a very small space of time
within a beat he was on the phone complaining about an error in his bill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of beat
Dr. Deepika Chopra, Flow Space, 16 June 2026
During enslavement, physical violence, such as being beaten with whips, was used to control Black bodies.
—Nia Dumas, NPR, 16 June 2026
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 June 2026
As her third year gets underway, Clark has had to contend with distractions, including rumors of a rift with head coach Stephanie White and an injury-report incident in which a Fever beat reporter’s credentials were revoked.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
Cortisol and adrenaline flood the body, inducing the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, senses to heighten—all to prepare our body for fight or flight.
—Dr. Deepika Chopra, Flow Space, 16 June 2026
During enslavement, physical violence, such as being beaten with whips, was used to control Black bodies.
—Nia Dumas, NPR, 16 June 2026
Noun
O’Connor matches her beat for beat as the man who knew too much and knows the only way out of his head is to get it to every living person on the planet all at once.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 June 2026
As her third year gets underway, Clark has had to contend with distractions, including rumors of a rift with head coach Stephanie White and an injury-report incident in which a Fever beat reporter’s credentials were revoked.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Adjective
Bass began his career as a beat reporter covering feature stories through the mid-80s.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
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Post-surgery cone preventing you from licking your wound and other fun?—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
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Chalk it up to a bad match, and lick your wounds.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Across fixtures which mirror the opening half-a-dozen matches of the first team’s Champions League campaign, Newcastle were defeated on every occasion.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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So that led to the biggest shock of all when after Steven blocked Savannah’s vote, and Sophi’s Knowledge is Power fizzled in spectacular fashion, and Tres Leches seemed despondent and defeated… that Steven ended up being unanimously voted out anyway!—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Seven decades later that number has climbed to seventy-three, while those in the richest nations have surpassed an average of over fourscore years, a number the Bible reserves for only the most vigorous among us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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In the meantime, there is a World Cup to win and Os Magricos to surpass.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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My calves and thighs often throbbed, my waist ached and my knees swelled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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The father of six children, a teenage heart throb, a brilliant stage actor, and a husband.—
Dr. Frederick W. Ruymann,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Keep your eyes open for Martial and Mallow scrub-hairstreaks, lyside sulphurs, malachites, and a variety of skippers fluttering among the blooms.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
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Anaheim took charge with a four-goal second period that featured a franchise-record 27 shots on Chicago's net, capped by Carlsson's 15th goal on a fluttering deflection for a 5-0 lead.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Councilmember Nithya Raman on Wednesday cast the November mayoral runoff as a choice between change and the status quo, arguing that Los Angeles voters are frustrated with City Hall and ready for new leadership.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 June 2026
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His futile dreams of Mexico were not a metaphor for a life frustrated by unresolved dreams.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore are the names to watch at tackle, and Mike Caliendo should draw the start at guard.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
8 Dec. 2025
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An acclaimed actor, director and proud Utah resident, Redford was one of the first celebrities to use his platform to draw attention to environmental issues in the 1970s.—
Kathleen Toner,
CNN Money,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The glowing green letters emerge ominously against a dark backdrop.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
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Pedestrians swerve between packs of police, horns honk at teenagers blocking the street, neon restaurant signs glow.—
Taylor Swinton,
Washington Post,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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