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
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 July 2025
According to the New York Times, this thoroughly beats the area’s previous record of 1.47 inches, set in 1908.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Diane Brady, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Some dabbed their eyes during ballads while others swayed to the beat during passionate numbers.
—Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2025
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2025
That is not your beat, crazy man… What the f**k is wrong with you, Plies?
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
For three Orlando area 2024 state runner-up teams — Jones, Lake Mary and Osceola — beating the high heat was one of the challenges alongside of soaring expectations.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 July 2025
According to the New York Times, this thoroughly beats the area’s previous record of 1.47 inches, set in 1908.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
The markets: Up, again! Analyst notes from Macquarie on the Fed, JPMorgan on earnings beats and misses, EY-Parthenon on jobs, and JPMorgan on business sentiment.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Some dabbed their eyes during ballads while others swayed to the beat during passionate numbers.
—Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2025
Adjective
What history shows: Apple has a history of topping earnings expectations with a beat rate of nearly 90%, according to Bespoke.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2025
That is not your beat, crazy man… What the f**k is wrong with you, Plies?
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
-
The Boston Celtics are still licking their wounds following the heartbreaking end to the 2024-25 NBA season.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
And Lil Wayne agrees by licking my face, which is part of the job description for companion dogs.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
As a fighting force, Hezbollah, the most powerful of Tehran’s proxy forces since 1982, was defeated.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
-
But how will the Four defeat an almost godlike being, even with their impressive superpowers?—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
Ford's filings now surpass the record set by General Motors of 77 recalls for all of 2014.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Arizona's Dragon Bravo Fire began from a lightning strike on July 4 and has surpassed more than 105,000 acres along the canyon's North Rim.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Dolphins are in a less optimism-friendly spot than UM, coming off an 8-9 season and with that playoff-win drought still an embarrassing, throbbing pain.—
Greg Cote
July 17,
Miami Herald,
17 July 2025
-
Continuing north under Canal, the new subway would bring precious new mobility to the congested and fast-growing River West and Fulton River districts, two formerly obscure tracts of warehouses and railroad spurs now throbbing with residential development — and auto traffic.—
F.K. Plous,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
When a medevac chopper or gunship had to go up at night, exhaust from its turbine spooling up fluttered the screen above my ammunition crate bunk.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
27 July 2025
-
The stamp, which shows the Stars and Stripes—the nation's 13 stripes and 50 stars—fluttering in a breeze against a white background, was designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá using a photograph by Doug Haight.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
The men's families and supporters were frustrated with the pace of the hearing.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
-
Not being able to offer a heart-lung transplant in Austin frustrates Fraser.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins drew parallels to other high-profile cases, suggesting the victim, Latasha White, deserves the same level of respect and investigation as Crystal Rogers and Breonna Taylor.—
Marina Johnson,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
-
The crew will be drawn from Ann Arbor and the Detroit region.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Head away from city lights around this time to hunt the glowing band of the Milky Way's core, which can be spotted during the summer months streaming towards the eastern horizon as dusk gives way to night in dark sky locations.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The spectacle produces about three meteors per hour; look for its shooting stars near the Eridanus constellation, which hangs low in the southeast sky August’s full sturgeon moon will glow in the southeast skies on Aug. 9, with Saturn nearby to the east.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share