1
as in pulse
a rhythmic expanding and contracting
he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in defeat
failure to win a contest
took a beating and ended up in second place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in defeating
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 exceeding
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 throbbing
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in flapping
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 frustrating
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in drawing
to shape with a hammer
the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in burning
to shine with a bright harsh light
the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in tapping
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in circumventing
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 grinding
to reduce to fine particles
years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in cheating
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beating
Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Much of modern investing discourse is chest-beating.
—Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
While the brand has since expanded to other New York cities such as Rochester, Buffalo, Brooklyn, and beyond, the flagship—opened in 1988 in a converted bar on Willow Street—remains its beating heart.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beating
Noun
You weren’t allowed to paint your culture, you weren’t allowed to dance, you weren’t allowed to cook your food, do your drum beating, any of that.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Much of modern investing discourse is chest-beating.
—Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Chiefs took home a victory, beating the Raiders 31-0.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
While the brand has since expanded to other New York cities such as Rochester, Buffalo, Brooklyn, and beyond, the flagship—opened in 1988 in a converted bar on Willow Street—remains its beating heart.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beating
Noun
-
In recent years, Kim Kardashian’s brand, which has captured market share from a struggling Victoria’s Secret, has had its pulse on culture, with campaigns featuring everyone from the Italian stars of The White Lotus to the Mahomes family and promoting apparel ranging from lingerie to loungewear.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Nearby cameras also captured seven audio pulses and a total of seven rounds were missing from the officers’ weapons.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Debate rages on in Pennsylvania as to whether the Eagles offense is too predictable, or simply ineffective after the Eagles lost their second straight game last week, an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Giants on Thursday Night Football.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United, the approach was more akin to what Tottenham fans might have been used to seeing in the Europa League last season, when Postecoglou took a more pragmatic outlook.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Led by blaring ‘80s synthesizers and a pounding beat, the song features a distorted lead vocal from D’Angelo, who accompanies himself on multitracked backing vocals with the occasional soul shriek thrown in for good measure.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
-
John Candy famously took a racquetball to the skull in a key comedic scene from the 1984 film Splash — and fellow actor Tom Hanks recalls that his late costar's head might've been pounding already after Candy spent the night before drinking with Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Mariners reached this year’s ALCS off the back of the longest winner-takes-all playoff game in MLB history on Friday, dramatically defeating the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in a four-hour, 58-minute contest.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Alabama continued its rebound from a Week 1 loss by defeating Missouri.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The study showed that the robot could make multiple turns exceeding 100 degrees along its body length when activated.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
But Vrabel’s methods are working, because the Patriots are exceeding expectations and punching above their weight atop the AFC East standings.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s why my leg is throbbing.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The first movie squeaked by thanks largely to its creation of a CG parallel universe of neon graphics, geometric lines and throbbing grids that was genuinely innovative for its time.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But its appeal can’t be divorced from the romance of its history, which properly began in the 19th century when English polo players began wearing oxford shirts as their preferred uniform, complete with collars that buttoned against the body to prevent their points from flapping in the wind.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Above it all, flapping in the wind, there’s the stars and stripes, that latecomer flag to native nations.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at the beginning of the month, dropping points for the first time in the Women’s Super League (WSL) this season, Chelsea needed a penalty to equalise and finish with the same result away against FC Twente of the Vrouwen Eredivisie.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Operating every Friday at noon, the Rolling Bridge becomes an enthralling sight, drawing large crowds to witness its unfolding process over the Grand Union Canal.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beating. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share