1
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in defeats
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 surpasses
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 throbs
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in flutters
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 frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
as in glows
to shine with a bright harsh light
the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in drums
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in confuses
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in circumvents
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 grinds
to reduce to fine particles
years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in plucks
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 blows
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 pulses
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 rhythms
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 heartbeats
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of beats
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Even if adjustments become necessary later, thoughtful action beats hesitation.
—Fazila Shahid, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
As so often happens, even if many folks in Hollywood dislike the guy, and Penn has already won two Oscars, big and brash often beats quiet and precise.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
But the wildflower displays in Death Valley and elsewhere may not last long, as the sun beats down on Southern California bringing all-time temperature highs and strong winds.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
When the sun sinks below the horizon, nothing beats the retro pleasure of a movie under the twinkling stars.
—Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
However, Hostwinds beats HostArmada by offering Linux and Windows server OS options, giving you more flexibility.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Second baseman Katarina Zarate grounds a ball to short, but beats the throw to first base.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
The punishment for a teacher who so severely beats a student that a bone is broken is to be removed from their job.
—Mick Krever, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
The news overshadowed first-quarter beats on the top and bottom lines.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Manz claimed in court documents his smart watch recorded his heart rate jumping from 80 beats per minute to 95 per minute after eating the tacos with hot and spicy salsa.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Some of these political beats sound very familiar indeed).
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Synchronized blinking faded when the researchers sped up the Bach chorales to 120 beats per minute.
—Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
On those earlier projects, María reflected on her mental health journey over simple, muted beats and delicate chords.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
Once Shaynak was cast, Sachs called him up to talk story beats.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
When the music did start, with only two band members in tow (and some occasional backing tracks), that drummer mostly used mallets, and stuck toward accents more than beats, to keep things to the hushed mode she’s known for.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
There will also be a DJ serving beats the entire weekend and an invitation-only afterparty on Saturday and Sunday.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Even if adjustments become necessary later, thoughtful action beats hesitation.
—Fazila Shahid, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
As so often happens, even if many folks in Hollywood dislike the guy, and Penn has already won two Oscars, big and brash often beats quiet and precise.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
But the wildflower displays in Death Valley and elsewhere may not last long, as the sun beats down on Southern California bringing all-time temperature highs and strong winds.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
When the sun sinks below the horizon, nothing beats the retro pleasure of a movie under the twinkling stars.
—Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
However, Hostwinds beats HostArmada by offering Linux and Windows server OS options, giving you more flexibility.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Second baseman Katarina Zarate grounds a ball to short, but beats the throw to first base.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
The punishment for a teacher who so severely beats a student that a bone is broken is to be removed from their job.
—Mick Krever, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Working once again with Justin Raisen—the pop producer with an East Coast punk background, like Gordon—the beats mine less fresh sources than on their previous two records together.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
The news overshadowed first-quarter beats on the top and bottom lines.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Manz claimed in court documents his smart watch recorded his heart rate jumping from 80 beats per minute to 95 per minute after eating the tacos with hot and spicy salsa.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Some of these political beats sound very familiar indeed).
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Synchronized blinking faded when the researchers sped up the Bach chorales to 120 beats per minute.
—Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
On those earlier projects, María reflected on her mental health journey over simple, muted beats and delicate chords.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
Once Shaynak was cast, Sachs called him up to talk story beats.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
When the music did start, with only two band members in tow (and some occasional backing tracks), that drummer mostly used mallets, and stuck toward accents more than beats, to keep things to the hushed mode she’s known for.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beats
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Learning from losing Anthony Edwards is stealing the superpowers of whoever defeats him.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The only defeats the Raiders have this year were at the prestigious Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas just before Christmas, the second out-of-state trip the team took in December following a weekend jaunt to Arizona for a couple of games earlier in the month.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes, the pantry uses monetary funds to replenish supply, but the demand — both from Muslims and non-Muslims — often surpasses what’s available.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Arrow Lake processors offer abundant processing power that often surpasses that of their direct competitors.—
Michael Justin Allen Sexton,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tennessee law, the judge explained, thus still frustrates a core goal of the CEA—uniform regulation of the derivatives market.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Attending the esports-style SCC in London, The Athletic saw exactly how Nakamura frustrates some chess fans but helps make new ones.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The glamorous restaurant, which opened in 1984 near Harrod’s, draws the wealthy and the famous for classic Italian cuisine and an upbeat, energetic vibe.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, writer-directors Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer’s debut feature draws its title from the simple action of pulling a dead-weight object along the ground or floor.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Soft light glows over a dining room that seats roughly 40.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Green fluorescent protein, first isolated from a jellyfish, glows bright green when under a blue light.—
Marc Zimmer,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beats. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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