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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beats
Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Nothing beats a weekend getaway to a small town.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
This region, famous throughout the world for Ferrari and Lamborghini and the best restaurant in the world in Osteria Francescana (although, frankly, nothing beats Rossella’s tagliatelle at La Montana) might one day also be renowned as the place Italian football reset and relaunched.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 May 2026
The noonday sun beats down on agave and sansevieria fields as Nate Berkus accompanied a group of design aficionados on a tour of a working henequen farm in Yucatán.
—Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026
And Prada 2 beats Blunt’s Oppenheimer, which opened globally at $176 million.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 May 2026
If Sunny Hills wins both of its games and Sonora beats Esperanza twice next week, there would be a three-way tie for the league title.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
The Lighter, Fluffier Rival Plenty of locals and visitors will tell you Cafe Beignet actually beats the icon.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Since the marinade clings to the meat almost like a crust, leaner chicken breasts can work here, too, but to me there’s nothing that beats the juiciness and even-cooking of boneless, skinless thighs on the hibachi.
—Sheldon Simeon, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
Sure, the fight itself is visually choppy and barely supported by the underdeveloped beats that get us there.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
The space pulses with Afro-beats and laughter.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Kelli Reynolds is a script supervisor for Inspiration, the language learning model that has copyrighted not just archetypal characters, but all tropes and plot beats, so that no human can access or create new stories.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Hathaway mostly follows the beats but is given less room for the broader comedy that made the original so infectious.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
The praise is certainly warranted, as Linde's top- and bottom-line beats were driven by year-over-year sales growth across all of its end markets and key operating regions.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Subscribers will also be invited to register for tours of the AJC’s offices and participate in Q&As with journalists across various beats.
—Hugo Rojo, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026
After the lesson, stay for salsa funk dancing to the Latin beats of La Verdad.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
New York quite like this tune (though there is one a little later on the list that beats this puppy in that category).
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Nothing beats a weekend getaway to a small town.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
This region, famous throughout the world for Ferrari and Lamborghini and the best restaurant in the world in Osteria Francescana (although, frankly, nothing beats Rossella’s tagliatelle at La Montana) might one day also be renowned as the place Italian football reset and relaunched.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 May 2026
The noonday sun beats down on agave and sansevieria fields as Nate Berkus accompanied a group of design aficionados on a tour of a working henequen farm in Yucatán.
—Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026
And Prada 2 beats Blunt’s Oppenheimer, which opened globally at $176 million.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 May 2026
If Sunny Hills wins both of its games and Sonora beats Esperanza twice next week, there would be a three-way tie for the league title.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
The Lighter, Fluffier Rival Plenty of locals and visitors will tell you Cafe Beignet actually beats the icon.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Since the marinade clings to the meat almost like a crust, leaner chicken breasts can work here, too, but to me there’s nothing that beats the juiciness and even-cooking of boneless, skinless thighs on the hibachi.
—Sheldon Simeon, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Their earliest and biggest target has been Dax, a 32-year-old janitor-turned-rapper from Canada who spits overwrought motivational lyrics over rudimentary beats.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
Sure, the fight itself is visually choppy and barely supported by the underdeveloped beats that get us there.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
The space pulses with Afro-beats and laughter.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Kelli Reynolds is a script supervisor for Inspiration, the language learning model that has copyrighted not just archetypal characters, but all tropes and plot beats, so that no human can access or create new stories.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Hathaway mostly follows the beats but is given less room for the broader comedy that made the original so infectious.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
The praise is certainly warranted, as Linde's top- and bottom-line beats were driven by year-over-year sales growth across all of its end markets and key operating regions.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Subscribers will also be invited to register for tours of the AJC’s offices and participate in Q&As with journalists across various beats.
—Hugo Rojo, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026
After the lesson, stay for salsa funk dancing to the Latin beats of La Verdad.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beats
Verb
-
While Deborah licks her wounds from bombing very, very hard, the Frank interview plays.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
Over-spraying leads to streaks, which defeats the entire purpose.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, the historical epic’s opening weekend surpasses all previous Marathi cinema records.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
Charles also said both nations must remain committed to supporting Ukraine as Russia’s full-scale invasion surpasses four years, and underscored how staying within NATO is significant to prevent further tensions between Europe and North America.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
1 May 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
-
Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
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
-
When the cityscape frustrates urban photographers with uneven terrain or limited spaces, photographic gear company Silence Corner strikes back with the Viperpod – a hybrid tripod designed to hang anywhere in seconds for unencumbered solo shooting.—
Shirl Leigh
May 06,
New Atlas,
6 May 2026
-
What frustrates me is that the Board has invoked emergency powers for rent policy while failing to declare an actual public health emergency for unsheltered homelessness — the one domain where the legal, moral, and practical case is overwhelming.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The proximity to Piedmont Park and the neighborhood's walkability is part of what draws newcomers to Midtown.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
The title, from which the band also draws its name, describes the pay bump workers are mandated to get in times of economic flux, setting the table for the band’s ever-unsparing critiques of life under capitalism.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Below, sits Altair, while Deneb glows to the left, representing the tail of the great swan in the constellation Cygnus.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
-
It can be used as a nightlight, glows in seven colors and features a selection of soothing soundscapes.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beats. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
