Synonyms of beat
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as in to lick
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1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
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2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess
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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
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4
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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
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6
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
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as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
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10
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
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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
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12
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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
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1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered one hard beat on the drums
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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
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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
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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
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as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of beat
Claire Franken, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Knoxville Catholic was an early-season darling after handily beating Riverdale, Anderson County and Lipscomb Academy, but MBA may have taken that title away from the Irish by beating them in Week 5.
—Jacob Shames, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 22 Sep. 2025
Back in the plaza, at the heart of the protest that cold March day, a trio of drummers beat time at the center of the swell of people—three quick beats that marked a call.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
In a miracle from the beat gods, workers on site were able to clear out the piles of debris and construct a new stage to host the fest’s headliners overnight, giving Nervo, Axwell, Martin Garrix, Alok and others a place to perform on night one.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
So who — or what — exactly is the devil that needs to be beat in this small town?
—Noun
After all, beneath a full glam beat is a nourished complexion and healthy strands—and that makes all the difference.
—Adjective
Those submissions—we’ve received thousands since this list first launched—are then analyzed and supplemented by reporting from beat journalists at Forbes and Know Your Value.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
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During a bedtime conversation between Kaz and Caesar, for example, their dog keeps licking Caesar as Kaz tries to have a serious talk with him.—
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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.—
Verb
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The junior quarterback went 5-for-8 passing with 146 yards, while adding 59 yards rushing to go with three total touchdowns as Springfield Central defeated a Catholic Conference nemesis, 28-20.—
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Cleopatra was born in Alexandria in 69 BC, crowned queen at the age of 18 and died in 30 BC after being defeated by Octavian, also known as Emperor Augustus and the founder of the Roman Empire, during the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.—
Verb
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The circle this year celebrated surpassing the $2 million mark in support of 171 initiatives and projects since its founding 23 years ago.—
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There are a total of 28 points available over the three-day tournament, and the first national team to surpass 14 points wins.—
Verb
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The upper blocks throbbed and pulsed a deep blue, reflecting the pond’s windblown currents.—
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That blue vein in her temple was really throbbing now.—
Verb
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Sitting at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the village is known for its year-round recreation and ubiquitous aspen trees, which make a stunning (albeit short) shift from fluttering green to bright yellow and orange with hints of red.—
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Councilwoman Stevens fluttered and snapped a folding fan.—
Verb
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Broner also got frustrated on multiple occasions upon noticing that someone was recording him, and even grabbed the phone at one point.—
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The mayor of Lobitos, Ricardo Bancayan Eche insists that protecting the waves is an issue close to his heart but says he is frustrated by national politics.—
Verb
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Since buying the property in 2013, Swift has drawn fans to Bay Street, the village's main drag of clothing boutiques and ice cream counters, all checklist items on the Swiftie itinerary.—
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The Super Bowl Halftime Show typically draws over 100 million viewers, providing unprecedented global exposure for artists and their cultural impact.—
Verb
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Best case is glowing reviews and great buzz buoy the film’s relevance among moviegoers for one week after another.—
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In videos shared to the meteor society and to local TV outlets, the satellite’s breakup appeared dramatic but serene, moving slowly across the sky and trailing glowing fragments for several seconds.—
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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