beat off

verb

Definition of beat offnext
as in to repel
to drive back the defense managed to beat off those offensive players who were taking shots at the goalie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beat off Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose gets a lot of notice for its athletics programs, but the Monarchs are proving to be the team to beat off the sports fields, too. — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 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 Breathing problems which sent my heart beat off the charts. — David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023 See All Example Sentences for beat off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat off
  1. repel
  2. resist
  3. turn away
  4. turn back
  5. repulse
  6. stave off
Verb
  • The soldiers were among thousands sent by North Korea to help Russia repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region as part of expanding cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • This natural pest control spray keeps roaches, stink bugs, spiders, ants, centipedes, crickets, and tons of other bugs away thanks to its strong scent that repels them without harsh chemicals.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • But resist the urge to throw every brightening ingredient at the problem.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Attempts to coordinate the different agencies under a central authority to fight organized crime have failed in Congress, where professional associations representing those agencies have resisted anything that would reduce their power.
    — MATIAS SPEKTOR, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • The report revealed that 85% of providers in the United States experienced moderate or severe staffing challenges in the past year and 55% have had to turn away people in need of care due to inadequate staffing.
    — STAT, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The plane was told to wait for clearance from the Jordanian military and then turned away.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn away
Verb
  • Tight end Travis Kelce looks like he’s turned back the clock for Kansas City, which is running the ball well.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • An Israeli military official said its fighter jets had turned back before the plane landed at Tabuk.
    — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • Young people just aren’t interested, partly because they’re repulsed by bodily fluids.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • His recent comments didn’t favor the Browns fanbase, and many Cleveland fans seem viscerally repulsed by him.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Still, SpaceX made adjustments to the vehicle’s engines to try to stave off such problems, so engineers will likely need to pursue further tweaks.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Paige Bueckers had 21 points and six rebounds for Dallas, which won seven of eight to end the season to earn the seventh seed and will now try to stave off elimination at home.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stave off

Browse Nearby Words

beatitude
beat off
beat one's brains out (about)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beat off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat%20off. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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