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 blow
-
as in pulse
-
as in rhythm
-
as in minute
-
as in tired
-
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
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
Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Jan. 2025
Prior to beating Georgetown, DePaul’s last Big East win was over No. 8 Xavier on Jan. 18, 2023.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025
Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
During my six seasons on the beat, Dart was easily USC’s second-best quarterback behind Caleb Williams, and a great kid to boot.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024
Shortstop Miguel Rojas is so beat up he was restricted to the bench.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beat 
Verb
Because the last time Swift wore Chanel was to watch the Chiefs beat the Texans on December 21.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Jan. 2025
Prior to beating Georgetown, DePaul’s last Big East win was over No. 8 Xavier on Jan. 18, 2023.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
Brooks, a graduate of the University of Texas, has received APSE National Top 10 honors eight times for his reporting, which includes his beat writing coverage during the 2022 season.
—Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
During my six seasons on the beat, Dart was easily USC’s second-best quarterback behind Caleb Williams, and a great kid to boot.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face by Edna Buchanan
Amazon
Edna Buchanan was a beat reporter for the Miami Herald, and this book, which came out in the late eighties, is a kind of journalistic memoir about her eighteen-year career covering crime there.
—The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024
Shortstop Miguel Rojas is so beat up he was restricted to the bench.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
-
Buffy loves to groom—in other words, lick—my hair, probably as an act of dominance, according to my vet.—
Elizabeth Denton,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Having another week off to lick wounds is pretty nice, too.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
What To Know Democrat Mike Zimmer has defeated Republican Kate Whittington in the special election for Senate District 35, which covers portions of Jackson, Clinton and Scott counties.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
-
However, opponent Kirsty-Lee Davies defeated Haynes to ensure the championship went to a biological female.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Seagate Technology — Shares gained 1% after Seagate Technology surpassed second-quarter expectations, with adjusted earnings of $2.03 per share on revenues of $2.33 billion.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
-
For the first time in the 22-year history of Randstad's annual review of the world of work, surpassed pay (79 percent) as a key motivator for employees.—
Aliss Higham,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
It’s heard in markets or throbbing from taxi radios and speakers in rickety roadside bars.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2025
-
From the ankle that throbs as if it had been twisted, to the head that feels as if it had been placed in a bench vise, the body is a ladder whose rungs are aches and pains.—
Richard Brookhiser,
National Review,
21 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Pulling the lever for Ann made my young Texan feminist heart flutter.—
Ilyse Hogue,
TIME,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Native to areas of the Mediterranean such as Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Israel, this low-growing plant has delicate flowers that flutter on long stems above silvery or variegated leaves.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
And with all the investigative resources and research methods of academia, I have been frustrated by the death of expertise on social media platforms that value high-frequency reactions and often baseless punditry—not rigor.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The most recent deadline extensions weren’t announced until the day before the vouchers were set to expire, which frustrated him.—
Nora O’Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Though Carroll is now officially with the Raiders, his candidacy has also drawn significant attention from the Dallas Cowboys.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Davis’ support for less-dense development will draw the attention of commissioners and the development community, which has a big say in city politics.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Many acne-prone reviewers praise its ability to lighten acne scars and calm any redness for a more radiant, smooth, soft, even, and glowing complexion.—
Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar,
Glamour,
22 Jan. 2025
-
The lightweight Ilia Liquid Light Serum Highlighter has a subtle, dewy glow.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near beat
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share