as in to repel
to drive back
the defense managed to beat off those offensive players who were taking shots at the goalie
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Recent Examples of beat off
He regularly gets beat off the bounce by quicker players.
—
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The dogs had driven the woman into the surf before a tourist came to her rescue, beating off the dingoes.
—CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP What To Know Obama beat off stiff competition from the likes of David Attenborough and Tom Hanks to win the Outstanding Narrator prize for his narration of the five-part Netflix series Our Oceans, which examines marine life across the world's oceans.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
In 2024, it was given to Netflix France series Class Act, which beat off competition from huge hits like The Bear, Beef and Succession.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Breathing problems which sent my heart beat off the charts.
—David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The dogs had driven the woman into the surf before a tourist came to her rescue, beating off the dingoes.
—CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP What To Know Obama beat off stiff competition from the likes of David Attenborough and Tom Hanks to win the Outstanding Narrator prize for his narration of the five-part Netflix series Our Oceans, which examines marine life across the world's oceans.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
In 2024, it was given to Netflix France series Class Act, which beat off competition from huge hits like The Bear, Beef and Succession.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Breathing problems which sent my heart beat off the charts.
—David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat off
Verb
-
The chaos of American life repels her.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
-
In 1862, Mexican troops repelled French attacks on the city of Puebla de los Ángeles in the Battle of Puebla, also known as the Battle of Cinco de Mayo.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Many Jewish people across the world are Zionists, and so there is a temptation, which needs to be resisted, to hold Jewish people across the world responsible for the misdeeds of Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Sometimes, that requires making small but meaningful adjustments, like warming washcloths for a patient who resists basic care.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Megan, meanwhile, gets increasingly emotional, turns away from the audience to wipe her tears, then pulls herself together and smiles so that the show can go on and everybody else can bow as well.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In turning away the case, the Supreme Court leaves that lower court decision in place.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mike Conley turned back the clock and hit four threes for the club.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
There's no need for Cher to want to turn back time, as the music legend arrived at the Met Gala in black lace and leather.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Floyd, distraught by his own physical failures, is nevertheless repulsed by the sight of Carol in her big, burly ump gear.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Made with Asics’ special ‘Puregel’ technology, the shoe has a cushy feel and shock absorption that staves off foot pain.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2026
-
The goal staved off the momentum from American Heritage (20-2), which scored three consecutive goals in the fourth period to tie the game.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beat off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat%20off. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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