Synonyms of beat
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as in to lick
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as in to defeat
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as in to surpass
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as in to throb
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as in to flutter
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as in to frustrate
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as in to draw
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as in to glow
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as in to drum
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as in to confuse
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as in to circumvent
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as in to grind
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as in to cheat
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as in pounded
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as in defeated
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as in surpassed
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as in pulsed
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as in fluttered
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as in baffled
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as in forged
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as in burned
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as in drummed
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as in puzzled
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as in escaped
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as in crushed
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as in cheated
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as in blow
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as in pulse
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as in rhythm
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as in minute
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as in tired
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as in exhausted
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Entries Near
1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to surpass
to be greater, better, or stronger than
this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to flutter
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to circumvent
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
he spends all of his time trying to beat the system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
13
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered one hard beat on the drums
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pulse
a rhythmic expanding and contracting
a single beat of the heart is said to be all that separates the vice president from the presidency
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rhythm
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity
moved to the beat of the music
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in minute
a very small space of time
within a beat he was on the phone complaining about an error in his bill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
felt beaten after three months of 90-hour workweeks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or beat
1
as in pounded
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in surpassed
to be greater, better, or stronger than
this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pulsed
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in fluttered
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in baffled
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in forged
to shape with a hammer
the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in burned
to shine with a bright harsh light
the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in drummed
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in escaped
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
he spends all of his time trying to beat the system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in crushed
to reduce to fine particles
years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in cheated
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of beat
Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Marie Müller and Sophia Wilson both scored as Portland beat the Wave 2-0 in front of 19,806 fans at Providence Park to overtake San Diego atop the NWSL standings.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
However, Resideo reported a first-quarter beat on both the top and bottom lines.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Dec. 2025
Customarily, it is served cold in whisper-thin slices, sidled by beaten biscuits, yeast rolls, or rye bread.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2025
Mark Carey, New York Times, 11 May 2026
In other National Women's Soccer League matches, host Kansas City beat the Chicago Stars 3-0, and Bay FC played to a scoreless draw with the Utah Royals.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
In the quarter, iPhone sales jumped 22% — to $57.99 billion, a March quarter record, also handily beating Wall Street forecasts.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Marie Müller and Sophia Wilson both scored as Portland beat the Wave 2-0 in front of 19,806 fans at Providence Park to overtake San Diego atop the NWSL standings.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
As Kristen gets sicker, the film hits other cancer movie beats like a trip up the coast to a snowy mountain, complete with Kristen, AJ, her brother, and their friend taking cheesy photos all along the way.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
However, Resideo reported a first-quarter beat on both the top and bottom lines.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Adjective
Bass began his career as a beat reporter covering feature stories through the mid-80s.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Add the beaten egg, a pinch of salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly.
—Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Dec. 2025
Customarily, it is served cold in whisper-thin slices, sidled by beaten biscuits, yeast rolls, or rye bread.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
If West Ham lose and Spurs beat Leeds on Monday, the gap will be four points between 17th and 18th.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 11 May 2026
In other National Women's Soccer League matches, host Kansas City beat the Chicago Stars 3-0, and Bay FC played to a scoreless draw with the Utah Royals.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
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The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The left fielder had a big night against one of his former teams with a home run and four RBIs on Thursday as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Royals 6-2 in front of 14,913 at Rate Field.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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The missile will reportedly have a host of capabilities intended to defeat ballistic missile defenses, but Russia has not built a good track record with the vehicle.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Centering on five boyhood friends reuniting after the death of their beloved basketball coach, director Dennis Dugan‘s film surpassed $270 million at the global box office.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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The national debt has surpassed the GDP, Social Security and Medicare face looming financial crises, inflation is rising, families are struggling — and yet Congress does nothing.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The collection consists of the sneaker brand’s UNO sneakers (which, PSA, are a fab Nike Air Max alternative), Arch Fit, and Slip-Ins—all of which include some of the most impressive cushioning and support, so your feet won’t throb after standing for hours in a field.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
19 Mar. 2026
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The smoke kept rising and the clouds continued to throb with sickly yellow-and-black whorls until just after sunset, when the boiling mass of vapor suddenly turned pink and scarlet, like a poisonous flower opening its petals.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Elke and Alysia started seeing the big bugs fluttering around in late April, and as their numbers grew through early May, the native rainbows started keying in on them more and more.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
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No one enjoys finding moths fluttering around the flour or tiny caterpillars crawling in the cereal.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Verb
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As mentioned, lounges are often overcrowded, and taking up more than your fair share of space can frustrate fellow travelers.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
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Prices are rising at a time when Americans are already frustrated by the high cost of living.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Friends of the Skyway drew 500 members in its first 10 weeks.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
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The Taurus Sun harmonizes with Jupiter in your 11th House of Friendship, drawing support for bigger plans through allies, networks, and shared insight.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Tabakis lightly strums and plucks over a glowing drone and chattering birds, offering an ecumenical introduction, a smiling welcome.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
14 May 2026
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The area is tucked against the San Gabriel Mountains, which glow the color of warm terra cotta at sunset.—
Aarne Heikkila,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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