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 thumps
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
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The nature of his creation may be horrific, but his heart beats the same as ours.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Texas beats Oklahoma 23-6 in the 121st edition of the Red River Rivalry.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
But certainly a methodical and coordinated approach beats what’s going on now.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Vegas beats itself with Geno Smith interceptions.
—Greg Cote
october 9, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Peg beats Mel at most of the games because of her extensive experience in law enforcement.
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
The sudser is up 67% in multi-platform viewership from last year’s time period and beats ABC’s General Hospital by 7% among women 25-54 on broadcast, according to Nielsen.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
On that front, scale beats rhetoric and right now, China has both.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Heran Mamo, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Johnson & Johnson reported quarterly earnings and revenue beats, raised its full-year sales outlook, and announced plans to spin off its orthopedics business.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
The 16-track project finds Soulja experimenting with fresh sounds — from that West Coast bass to more energetic beats — all while staying true to the essence that built his legacy.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025
This is a series that has always operated as absurd speculation, where broad metaphors about life and science get posited amid techno beats and car chases.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
His pre-teen son in tow, Luis joins up with a crusty group of dancers who are heading to a secret party in the heart of the desert, where the beats will be loud enough to drown out the sounds of the apocalyptic war that’s brewing around them.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
And within the bar scene along State and Regent streets in Madison and inside the Ped Mall in Iowa City, the heart of college football beats with a rhythm unmatched anywhere else throughout the beer highway.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The series is playful and heavily referential one moment — similarities to Full Metal Jacket are acknowledged and acknowledged again — and then tries to sell serious and highly emotional beats the next, occasionally with success and occasionally with jarring distraction.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Maggie also smiles tolerantly when Hank keeps his hand on her knee for a few beats too many, or leans in close during chats.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Chinese exports growth beats expectations.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The nature of his creation may be horrific, but his heart beats the same as ours.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Texas beats Oklahoma 23-6 in the 121st edition of the Red River Rivalry.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
But certainly a methodical and coordinated approach beats what’s going on now.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Vegas beats itself with Geno Smith interceptions.
—Greg Cote
october 9, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Peg beats Mel at most of the games because of her extensive experience in law enforcement.
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
The sudser is up 67% in multi-platform viewership from last year’s time period and beats ABC’s General Hospital by 7% among women 25-54 on broadcast, according to Nielsen.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
On that front, scale beats rhetoric and right now, China has both.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
And [Sosa] actually sent the beats.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Johnson & Johnson reported quarterly earnings and revenue beats, raised its full-year sales outlook, and announced plans to spin off its orthopedics business.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
The 16-track project finds Soulja experimenting with fresh sounds — from that West Coast bass to more energetic beats — all while staying true to the essence that built his legacy.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025
This is a series that has always operated as absurd speculation, where broad metaphors about life and science get posited amid techno beats and car chases.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
His pre-teen son in tow, Luis joins up with a crusty group of dancers who are heading to a secret party in the heart of the desert, where the beats will be loud enough to drown out the sounds of the apocalyptic war that’s brewing around them.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
And within the bar scene along State and Regent streets in Madison and inside the Ped Mall in Iowa City, the heart of college football beats with a rhythm unmatched anywhere else throughout the beer highway.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The series is playful and heavily referential one moment — similarities to Full Metal Jacket are acknowledged and acknowledged again — and then tries to sell serious and highly emotional beats the next, occasionally with success and occasionally with jarring distraction.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Maggie also smiles tolerantly when Hank keeps his hand on her knee for a few beats too many, or leans in close during chats.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beats
Verb
-
Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
When asked the question, the owl takes the lollipop and licks it three times before chomping down on its hard shell exterior and handing the stick back to the child.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
True What color does the Honmoon turn when HUNTR/X defeats the Saja Boys?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
-
See video … WATCH CHARLIE HURT – Shutting the government down defeats the whole purpose of the Democratic Party.—
,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The food pantry’s national delivery service received 410 new applications for support in just 10 days, an increase Bassett says surpasses their usual total from an entire quarter.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The next 24% tax bracket doesn’t hit until income surpasses $105,700 in 2026.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Portugal’s coastline throbs with beach goers and sports enthusiasts.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That doesn’t always come in the form of on-court minutes, which frustrates segments of the fan base.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
14 Oct. 2025
-
This inconsistency frustrates drivers and reduces their confidence in public charging networks, further slowing EV adoption.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The 10-track album draws heavily upon the music Benton released early in his career.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The darker tone also draws the eye, subtly highlighting architectural details while remaining cohesive with the overall palette.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the endless daylight of the Arctic summer, the tapetum lucidum, a mirror-like layer behind the retina, glows golden, reflecting light efficiently to prevent overexposure.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Under federal law, trunks of cars built after 2002 are required to contain a mechanical release lever inside the trunk that is easy to find and glows in the dark.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These cues told the robot which drums to strike and when.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beats. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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