as in turning back
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 beating 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
CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beating off
Verb
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Which had Riley then turning back to the East.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
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Surveillance video of the same moment from a different angle appears to show Toledo with his right arm behind the fence, possibly making a throwing motion, and then turning back toward the officer.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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But when turning away becomes habitual, relationships begin to feel emotionally lonely.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
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In the reading, 1 Kings Chapter 9, God warns King Solomon against turning away from him as Solomon consecrates the temple in Jerusalem.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
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However, Hawaii Forest & Trail has permission to take small groups to the summit on a five-hour Hidden Craters Hike that includes repelling into and scrambling through a large lava tube.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The chemical is believed to work in a number of ways—jamming smell detectors so that mosquitoes cannot recognize a human or animal target, conferring a bitter taste that mosquitoes detect on their feet, or mimicking the smell of natural mosquito-repelling plants.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
28 May 2026
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Moore was initially facing charges of breaking or entering, resisting a public officer and assault of a government official or employee, but the latter two charges have since been dismissed.—
Jericka Duncan,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
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She was initially charged with misdemeanor breaking or entering, resisting arrest and assault on a government official.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Pavers or concrete designed to mimic natural stone slabs visually break up the surface, staving off parking lot connotations.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
21 May 2026
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His last adventure involved him staving off a multiversal crisis by making everyone in the world forget him, including his best friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon).—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beating off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beating%20off. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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