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
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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
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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
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
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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
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
Son led Tottenham to the Europa League title, beating Manchester United in Bilbao, Spain, in May, for the club’s first trophy in 17 years.
—Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
The man who once provided motivation through trap beats and raw lyrics is now providing it through hands-on mentorship and workshops.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Columnists like The Denver Post’s Troy Renck and Sean Keeler can do that, but not a beat writer.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
Had the Broncos beaten the Chiefs in Kansas City or upset Cincinnati on national TV in overtime, Nix would be viewed closer to Jayden Daniels.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
Son led Tottenham to the Europa League title, beating Manchester United in Bilbao, Spain, in May, for the club’s first trophy in 17 years.
—Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
With a nearly 30% beat on its second-quarter net profits of $1.63 billion announced Aug. 5, BP’s net income spiked from a year-on-year loss of $129 million, which compares to BP’s full-year net profit for 2024 of just $381 million.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
The man who once provided motivation through trap beats and raw lyrics is now providing it through hands-on mentorship and workshops.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Adjective
That’s a beat rate of 93%, well above the 20-year average beat rate of 63%, Bespoke Investment Group data shows.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Columnists like The Denver Post’s Troy Renck and Sean Keeler can do that, but not a beat writer.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
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In it, the dog licked its butt, then licked Paul’s lips.—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
6 Aug. 2025
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If pets or livestock have contact with the water, clean the animal with clean water right away and keep them from licking their body, the department advises.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Kinloch closely defeated former THAW CEO Saunteel Jenkins in the city's Aug. 5 primary to advance in the race, according to unofficial vote results on the city's website.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Schmitt replaced long-time GOP hand Roy Blunt, who retired in 2022, and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., defeated Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018. Hawley and Schmitt are close in age and enjoy a good relationship but diverge stylistically.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There has not been a player who has competed or surpassed a senior member in a position.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
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In his first seven months in office, Trump declared a national emergency at least 12 times, a feat that has surpassed any other modern president in recent times.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And its just stabbing pain, like throbbing pain from behind my eyes.—
Tom Zeller Jr.
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
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The Dolphins are in a less optimism-friendly spot than UM, coming off an 8-9 season and with that playoff-win drought still an embarrassing, throbbing pain.—
Greg Cote
July 17,
Miami Herald,
17 July 2025
Verb
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Stock image: Three U.S. flags flutter on a white fence in a California neighborhood.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
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The force of McBride’s arrival rattled the uprights, sending the orange flags at their tops fluttering.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Verb
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For example, Dell has reportedly tracked VPN usage and badge swipes, frustrating some workers.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
8 Aug. 2025
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When end customers call their bank to ask for an update, banks themselves have little visibility into a dispute’s status, leaving everyone frustrated.—
Jeff Kauflin,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Groundwater pumping is another option to draw water up from underground aquifers to meet demand.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The intentionality behind community-building is what drew Brockenbrough to the platform.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Flaky croissants warm in glowing bakeries, accordion notes drift through the air, and lovers linger by the Seine.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Paddle through Mosquito Lagoon after dark to witness glowing bioluminescent organisms.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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