battered

adjective

bat·​tered ˈba-tərd 

1

: damaged or worn down by hard use

a battered old hat

a battered truck

2

: injured by repeated blows

the victim's battered body

a boxer's battered face

3

: subjected to repeated physical abuse

providing help for battered wives/children

… the store turned into an impromptu women's crisis center, where battered women and mothers trying to rescue their daughters from abusive dads gravitated.

—Donna Minkowitz

Examples of battered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mother and daughter live in a small room with a bed, a sink, and a battered chest of drawers. —Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024

Thomas also samples a dish called tacos three ways that features a fish taco made up of battered cod with lemon and pickled red onion. —The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024

Among the list of battered restaurants: Red Lobster, Buca di Beppo, Hawkers Asian Street Food, Tijuana Flats and Roti. —Joel Mathis, theweek, 29 Oct. 2024

His battered body was found in the snow outside the Canton home of a fellow Boston police officer. —Faith Karimi, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing battered

• battered child syndrome
• battered woman syndrome