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
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
On this play, Tegra Tshabola got beat off the ball, forcing Donaldson to take a different hole before running into a defender who center Carson Hinzman was on until the hole shifted.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
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
CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
On this play, Tegra Tshabola got beat off the ball, forcing Donaldson to take a different hole before running into a defender who center Carson Hinzman was on until the hole shifted.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
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 driver used bear spray to repel the suspect and drove away to a safe location, the Sheriff’s Office said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This 2x4-foot area rug literally repels water, making liquid less likely to seep deeper into the material.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those who are traveling with a partner will appreciate the double vanities—or resist the old-fashioned clawfoot tub.—
Diana Oates,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The urge to lie down for a soak, even in winter, is hard to resist.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When that happens, families turn to public hospitals, where no one is turned away.—
Shane Strum,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The simple design suited the low-key style icon and reflected the restraint which characterized fashion of the era—a turn away from the maximalism of the 1980s.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The actions continue the administration’s efforts to turn back the clock on the transition to cleaner energy and reverse efforts to address climate change.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The protesters stopped at a Kroger and held signs to cars passing by, then turned back around down Bailey Boswell Road and headed back to Boswell High.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
And Republicans are among those repulsed by the ongoing scandals.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The ham sandwich rumor reportedly began as her manager Allan Carr’s attempt to stave off speculation that her death was linked to drug use.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Physical activity safeguards your heart, helps stave off metabolic disease, and improves your strength and stamina.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beat off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat%20off. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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