Synonyms of beat
-
as in to lick 
-
as in to defeat
-
as in to surpass
-
as in to throb
-
as in to flutter
-
as in to frustrate
-
as in to draw
-
as in to glow
-
as in to drum
-
as in to confuse
-
as in to circumvent
-
as in to grind
-
as in to cheat
-
as in battered
-
as in gotten
-
as in surpassed
-
as in pulsed
-
as in fluttered
-
as in baffled
-
as in forged
-
as in burnt
-
as in drummed
-
as in puzzled
-
as in escaped
-
as in pounded
-
as in cheated
-
as in pounding
-
as in defeating
-
as in exceeding
-
as in throbbing
-
as in flapping
-
as in frustrating
-
as in drawing
-
as in burning
-
as in tapping
-
as in baffling
-
as in circumventing
-
as in grinding
-
as in cheating
-
as in blow
-
as in pulse
-
as in rhythm
-
as in minute
-
as in throb
-
as in defeat
-
as in tired
-
as in exhausted
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
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
1
as in throb
a rhythmic expanding and contracting
he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in defeat
failure to win a contest
took a beating and ended up in second place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
or beat
1
as in battered
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in gotten
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 burnt
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 pounded
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
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 beat
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
The Oilers, who finished third in the Pacific Division, beat the Los Angeles Kings in six games, the Vegas Golden Knights in five games and the Dallas Stars in five games to return to the Stanley Cup Final.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Marc Malkin, Variety, 28 May 2025
For the beat, Spickard uses Shiseido’s Radiant Lifting Foundation in shade 440 Amber.
—Tayler Adigun, Essence, 28 May 2025
Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
The gang members allegedly forced their way into a couple’s apartment at the Edge at Lowry Apartments in the Denver suburbs and bound, beat, stabbed and kidnapped the victims, leaving them hospitalized.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
Chee mashes the kernels with beaten egg, salt and a flourish of sugar that brings the flavor into focus but leaves no trace of sweetness.
—Ligaya Mishan Esther Choi, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 May 2025
Officers in the beating of Rodney King had been acquitted of assault, catalyzing deadly riots.
—Tim Arango, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2025
If Liverpool beat Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday, the Carabao Cup will be Slot’s first trophy since replacing Jurgen Klopp nine months ago.
—Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
The Bot gets +1 for guessing in three and +1 for beating me.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
The Padres beat Keller in early May in Pittsburgh, scoring five runs — four earned — in five innings.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
The Oilers, who finished third in the Pacific Division, beat the Los Angeles Kings in six games, the Vegas Golden Knights in five games and the Dallas Stars in five games to return to the Stanley Cup Final.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Noun
Brooke Burke, Roma Downey, Christy Hilton, Stan Cook & Sherrie Rose, Jennifer Salke and Veronica Barton-Schwartz will serve as honorary chairs for the gala, which will also feature special performances by Latin beat and soul rock artists Valeria Mason, Carmit Bachar, Ty Taylor and DJ Leslee.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 28 May 2025
For the beat, Spickard uses Shiseido’s Radiant Lifting Foundation in shade 440 Amber.
—Tayler Adigun, Essence, 28 May 2025
Adjective
Designed for businesses, these technologies include tools for stem separation, chord recognition, key and beat detection, lyrics transcription, and generative capabilities like singing voice modeling and assistive music creation.
—Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
The gang members allegedly forced their way into a couple’s apartment at the Edge at Lowry Apartments in the Denver suburbs and bound, beat, stabbed and kidnapped the victims, leaving them hospitalized.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Remove and discard plastic wrap from rolls, and gently brush tops of rolls with some of the beaten egg.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
Chee mashes the kernels with beaten egg, salt and a flourish of sugar that brings the flavor into focus but leaves no trace of sweetness.
—Ligaya Mishan Esther Choi, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022
Noun
Brown has a long history of arrests and allegations of violence, including his 2009 beating of then-girlfriend Rihanna, which led to him being charged with felony assault; that incident resulted in the U.K. denying Brown a visa to travel there for a short tour in 2010.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 May 2025
Officers in the beating of Rodney King had been acquitted of assault, catalyzing deadly riots.
—Tim Arango, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
The man had been severely beaten with a baseball bat and was suffering from injuries to his face and arm, federal authorities said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2025
If Liverpool beat Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday, the Carabao Cup will be Slot’s first trophy since replacing Jurgen Klopp nine months ago.
—Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Braxton, a globe-trotting killer for hire, is an ideal foil for Chris — a gleeful, filter-free mercenary who loves luxury goods and beating people up, but who is, like his brother, has been living a free-floating life that lacks meaningful connections.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
The Bot gets +1 for guessing in three and +1 for beating me.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share