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
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Recent Examples of beating
Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The Sureño gangs requires new members to undergo an initiation — either a 13-second beating, or in some cases, an act of violence against a rival, police said in court records.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
The foetal beat of air beats all around Helm like a beating heart (must elegantly variate).
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beating
Noun
He was convicted of the 1988 rape and fatal beating of his former manager at a Florida convenience store.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The Sureño gangs requires new members to undergo an initiation — either a 13-second beating, or in some cases, an act of violence against a rival, police said in court records.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
In the playoffs, Foothill swept Aliso Niguel and South Pasadena before beating Corona del Mar 3-2 in the quarterfinals and Flintridge Prep 3-1 in the semifinals.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
The foetal beat of air beats all around Helm like a beating heart (must elegantly variate).
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beating
Noun
-
The finished device generates pulses below 50 femtoseconds, uses only five components, and occupies just a few square centimeters.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The whole stadium had a shared pulse.—
Marta Tucci,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Auburn fell to 4-5 on the year after the Week 10 defeat to the Wildcats.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Although Ukraine for now is still maintaining a defense, the fall of Pokrovsk would be one of the most serious defeats Ukraine has suffered since March, when its troops were forced to retreat from Russia's Kursk region.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Afterwards, Munchak says agents pulled their car in front of hers and surrounded the vehicle, pounding on it, telling her to open the doors and pointing a gun at her.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The metal giants are currently pounding their way through a long-overdue tour of Australia and New Zealand, a six-date coast-to-coast swing for the M72 World Tour.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This came on the heels of another fleeting feel-good moment for the Rangers (20-18-6), who opened the new year by defeating the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers in Friday’s Winter Classic.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Zinke faced close races during his second House tenure however, winning his seat in the 2022 midterms by around three points before defeating the same opponent during the 2024 presidential election by more than seven points.—
Hunter Woodall,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that coastal areas from Hue to Dak Lak may be hit by waves of up to 26 feet and a storm surge of up to 2 feet in addition to high winds, possibly exceeding 84 miles per hour.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In addition to earnings-per-share and revenue in the third quarter exceeding expectations, sales and adjusted operating income in the company's biotechnology and diagnostics segments advanced year over year and beat expectations.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Over ominous, throbbing music, the lights start flashing, the tension starts building, and then, finally, Godzilla enters from stage right.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Nothing except my ankle, which was throbbing painfully.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Gauzy curtains that have blown into a tree are flapping in the wind.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beating. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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