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
-
It’s not meant to help members wage wars of choice, but to deter and repel aggressors by stipulating that an attack on one ally is an attack on all.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
-
One natural option is eucalyptus, which can help repel pests in your home.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Eventually, people could not resist returning to their lives, to routines more comfortable than standing in the streets with the sun glaring in your eyes, squinting up to check the position of snipers on a roof, or working with cramping fingers sewing your tenth mask of the night.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Brown was issued a desk appearance ticket by cops for resisting arrest and obstruction of government administration, officials said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the years since Abraaj’s collapse, there has been a distinct turn away from the notion that companies ought to be motivated by more than just profit.—
Hettie O'Brien,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Audiences have been turned away from screenings around the world and presales have more sparkle than a white glove.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two of the oil-carrying ships turned back in the first two hours after the blockade went into effect Monday morning.—
Gordon Lubold,
NBC news,
14 Apr. 2026
-
At least two vessels that had appeared to be heading for the exit turned back.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the mid-19th century, Kasanje was able to repulse a Portuguese military expedition.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The ruling marks a key victory for oil companies in their bid to stave off climate change lawsuits filed by activists against them seeking damages for their operations.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In the later game, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors are playing to stave off elimination.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beat off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat%20off. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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