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
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
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
Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat off
Verb
-
There was so much energy and enthusiasm and ambition coming out of those gatherings that anyone who got near us was in danger of being repelled by the sheer force of it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
-
It’s meant to contrast with the walls designed to repel refugees.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Fans were arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon (a knife), reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration, and trademark counterfeiting, the NYPD said.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
The suspects were charged with assaulting a police officer, fighting in a public place, resisting arrest, malicious damage and disorderly behavior in a police station.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Omar Artar, making history as Somalia’s first World Cup referee, was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
-
Rockmont opened a retail outlet after the three Weils, eating lunch across from their headquarters, noticed the number of would-be buyers who were turned away because the company didn’t sell direct to the public.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
All turned back from fear or foul weather.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026
-
For two nights, Mister A’s is turning back the clock to the mid-1960s for a special prix-fixe meal.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Firstman’s debut directorial effort, Club Kid, shrewdly acknowledges those garish personality tics, which have both endeared and repulsed audiences.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
-
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
Verb
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The measure, placed on the ballot by the county Board of Supervisors, asks voters to support the sales tax increase to help stave off the effects of federal Medi-Cal cuts affecting county healthcare facilities.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
The jet has the lowest cabin altitude in its class—2,691 feet while cruising at 41,000 feet—which can help to stave off fatigue and altitude sickness.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beat off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat%20off. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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