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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of beat
James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The New York Yankees managed to survive in Game 3 of the ALDS, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Then looks came out to a pulsating beat.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
In a miracle from the beat gods, workers on site were able to clear out the piles of debris and construct a new stage to host the fest’s headliners overnight, giving Nervo, Axwell, Martin Garrix, Alok and others a place to perform on night one.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
In between, they were beaten by a dubious penalty away to Galatasaray.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The New York Yankees managed to survive in Game 3 of the ALDS, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Between the aroma of sizzling cuisine, the driving beat of live music, and the anticipation for some of Hip-Hop and R&B’s biggest names, the city’s energy was palpable.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Then looks came out to a pulsating beat.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Those submissions—we’ve received thousands since this list first launched—are then analyzed and supplemented by reporting from beat journalists at Forbes and Know Your Value.
—Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
In a miracle from the beat gods, workers on site were able to clear out the piles of debris and construct a new stage to host the fest’s headliners overnight, giving Nervo, Axwell, Martin Garrix, Alok and others a place to perform on night one.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
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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
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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
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The high point came in September 2014, when Brækhus defeated Croatian Ivana Habazin to add the IBF welterweight title to her WBA, WBC, and WBO belts – becoming the first woman in any weight division to be recognized as an undisputed champion.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Yankees defeated the rival Boston Red Sox in three games at Yankee Stadium Thursday night, and the Dodgers rolled over the Cincinnati Reds in a pair of lopsided affairs at Dodger Stadium, capped by an 8-4 finale Wednesday.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rival studio estimates are even higher, with some predicting the film could surpass $35 million in its opening weekend.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
4 Oct. 2025
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The first movie was a surprise post-quarantine box office success, surpassing $161 million worldwide.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That's why my leg is throbbing.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
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The memory of them throbbed like a splinter that had never been removed.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Union Jack bunting fluttered overhead.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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Coomes has seen unexplained orbs fluttering in upstairs offices on the security cameras.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Laurene Allen, an environmental advocate who lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, where PFNA was one of several forever chemicals discovered in drinking water in 2016, was awaiting the report and is frustrated and enraged by its delay.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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The heated debate around the City Hall Project and picking apart the budget were two experiences in particular that frustrated Nguyen.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This area was mostly empty at the beginning, but the monstrous sounds of the race cars firing up their engines drew a lot of attention.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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In 2011, the Wisconsin State Legislature altered the property tax levy formula limits, eliminating the 2% ceiling that local municipalities could draw from taxpayers in places where new construction couldn't justify a larger levy increase.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The mountains glowed with golden light, evoking a sense of enchantment and possibility.—
Lisa Greissinger,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Los Milics was the subject of a glowing profile in the September 2025 issue of Food and Wine Magazine.—
Richard Ruelas,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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