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 licks
-
as in defeats
-
as in surpasses
-
as in throbs
-
as in flutters
-
as in frustrates
-
as in draws
-
as in glows
-
as in drums
-
as in confuses
-
as in circumvents
-
as in grinds
-
as in plucks
-
as in blow
-
as in pulse
-
as in rhythm
-
as in minute
-
as in thumps
-
as in pulses
-
as in rhythms
-
as in heartbeats
-
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
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 licks
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beat
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
Her family said Robert had allegedly beaten Giuffre during a family trip in January, which left her with severe injuries.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 2 May 2025
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2025
Hernández Rojas died in May 2010 after federal authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry beat, Tased and knelt on him.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
In season two, when Mike White’s series decamped to Sicily, the credits riffed on Italian frescoes that got increasingly debauched — with a beat drop from opera to EDM.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 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
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
Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
The latter figure barely beats the eBay auction price, which hovers around the $130 mark.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
According to the Almanac, summer 2024 was also Earth’s hottest summer since global records began in 1880 and this year could beat that record.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
Her family said Robert had allegedly beaten Giuffre during a family trip in January, which left her with severe injuries.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
Pair it with linen pants and espadrilles for a sightseeing day, then transition to sunset cocktails without missing a beat.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2025
Hernández Rojas died in May 2010 after federal authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry beat, Tased and knelt on him.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Adjective
As for where Garrett might land, The Athletic's beat reporters explain why odds favor the Commanders and Eagles, followed closely by the Bills, Lions and Bears.
—Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
In season two, when Mike White’s series decamped to Sicily, the credits riffed on Italian frescoes that got increasingly debauched — with a beat drop from opera to EDM.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 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
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
But a straight $200 discount beats those sales comfortably.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
The latter figure barely beats the eBay auction price, which hovers around the $130 mark.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 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 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share