as in psychotic
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
by film's end it's obvious that faded movie star Norma Desmond is completely bats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hits
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a sharp bat with a rolled-up newspaper and that fly was a goner
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in canes
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in knocks
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
batted the lamp off the table with one strike
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
batted the piñata until it finally broke open
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in roams
to move about from place to place aimlessly
on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 bats
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The younger brother of former Giants catcher Andrew Susac singled in his first two big league at-bats off David Peterson (0-1), then drew a walk and singled off Sean Manaea.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Skunks and bats are common carriers in Michigan.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Aside from the game, Banana Ball also features a number of hijinks, including dancing base coaches and umpires and hitters wielding flaming bats.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara kept the bats silent in a fantastic start Wednesday, limiting the Sox to three hits in the complete-game shutout.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Some bats have been known to carry rabies, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Clay Holmes threw 5 2/3 innings, Devin Williams recorded his first save in a Mets uniform, and the Mets limited the Cards to only five hits throughout the entire game, quieting the bats that made a lot of noise in their season-opening series.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Strong spring training from bats Spring training isn’t the ultimate prognosticator of success, but the Rangers’ improvement at the plate could be something that carries over into the regular season.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Obviously, there are ambitions for Broadway and the West End, but Tiffany bats such thoughts aside.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
The food chain is in full and pitiless effect, and no one bats an eye, or side-eyes a bat, when natural predatory impulses kick in.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Taylor bats leadoff for the presumptive Best Picture favorite.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
If Roberts bats Tucker second and Smith fifth, Freeman would likely take over as the cleanup hitter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
No one, in this room of 150-plus diners, bats an eye.
—Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Malice bats third to effortlessly deliver some of his best lyrical work from Let God Sort Em Out.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
Mookie Betts, who bats directly behind Ohtani, is just 3-for-23 in this Fall Classic.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
This ability, coupled with the ability to navigate at night by using a system of acoustic orientation (echolocation), has made the bats a highly diverse and populous order.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The younger brother of former Giants catcher Andrew Susac singled in his first two big league at-bats off David Peterson (0-1), then drew a walk and singled off Sean Manaea.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Skunks and bats are common carriers in Michigan.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Aside from the game, Banana Ball also features a number of hijinks, including dancing base coaches and umpires and hitters wielding flaming bats.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara kept the bats silent in a fantastic start Wednesday, limiting the Sox to three hits in the complete-game shutout.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Some bats have been known to carry rabies, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Clay Holmes threw 5 2/3 innings, Devin Williams recorded his first save in a Mets uniform, and the Mets limited the Cards to only five hits throughout the entire game, quieting the bats that made a lot of noise in their season-opening series.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Strong spring training from bats Spring training isn’t the ultimate prognosticator of success, but the Rangers’ improvement at the plate could be something that carries over into the regular season.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Providence coach Jim Holba bats her out of the leadoff spot.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Obviously, there are ambitions for Broadway and the West End, but Tiffany bats such thoughts aside.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
The food chain is in full and pitiless effect, and no one bats an eye, or side-eyes a bat, when natural predatory impulses kick in.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Taylor bats leadoff for the presumptive Best Picture favorite.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
If Roberts bats Tucker second and Smith fifth, Freeman would likely take over as the cleanup hitter.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
No one, in this room of 150-plus diners, bats an eye.
—Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Malice bats third to effortlessly deliver some of his best lyrical work from Let God Sort Em Out.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
Mookie Betts, who bats directly behind Ohtani, is just 3-for-23 in this Fall Classic.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
-
People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Among prisoners, 8% had psychotic disorders, compared to less than 1% of the general population, the report said.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Offensively, Natalya Muzquiz led the way with 3 hits and 4 RBIs while allowing 3 earned runs as a pitcher.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Two of those hits were home runs and another was a double.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This will help the remaining canes and new stems have the room to grow more easily.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Repeating this cycle helps replace older canes with new, stronger growth.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
It’s packed with anti-theft features Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The five-person cast roams the room, sitting at various circular tables to blur the lines between script and improvisation.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
-
So this fox crossed an ocean to arrive in a borough where its own species already roams free.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some celebrities have gotten mad at him about the interactions, and some of them laugh about it with him.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Us senior surfers need to stick together to hold off the hordes of nasty agro kidbots that are violently intent on world domination and the spread of nuclear surf rabies and mad Red Bull disease.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Shesterkin’s first thought was about how big the 6-foot-6 Markström was, but the smaller goalie still managed to land the majority of the blows.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
