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
John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
Make a well in center of mixture and crack in eggs; whisk eggs until lightly beaten.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2025
Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Netflix’s earnings beat for Q1 came amid broader fears of a looming economic downturn that could deliver a punch to consumer spending and ad budgets.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025
Amanda Seyfried will star in the series which follows a beat cop working as the opioid crisis grips the streets of Philadelphia.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for beat
Verb
The Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Wrigley Field to take the season series between the teams.
—John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
Make a well in center of mixture and crack in eggs; whisk eggs until lightly beaten.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
Yakuza 0: Director's Cut This update to RGG Studio's excellent beat 'em up features new cut scenes, English voiceovers, and French, German, Italian, and Spanish subtitles.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Netflix’s earnings beat for Q1 came amid broader fears of a looming economic downturn that could deliver a punch to consumer spending and ad budgets.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
In season two, when Mike White’s series decamped to Sicily, the credits riffed on Italian frescoes that got increasingly debauched — with a beat drop from opera to EDM.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025
Amanda Seyfried will star in the series which follows a beat cop working as the opioid crisis grips the streets of Philadelphia.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
-
Flames were licking the upper branches of tall trees.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
-
While investors are licking their wounds from a plunging stock market, and businesses brace for economic fallout, major investment banks are reaping extraordinary profits, according to Wall Street Journal.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In Brazil’s 2023 Presidential election, Lula da Silva defeated Jair Bolsonaro by less than two percentage points.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
That digital reaction surpassed even the volume of content that flooded the internet after the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump last summer.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Sunday’s race is expected to set the record for the most participants in a marathon, surpassing the 55,646 finishers at last year’s New York City Marathon.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Migraines commonly cause dizziness, nausea, throbbing pain on one side of the head and increased sensitivity to light.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Wrist and arm pain: Carpal tunnel syndrome causes throbbing or burning pain in the wrists, certain fingers, and hands.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Chinese and Hong Kong flags flutter as screens display the Hang Seng Index outside the Exchange Square complex, which houses the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on January 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, China.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Romantic connections will sweeten up by April 30 regardless, as your amorous ruler Venus finally flutters back into your relationship sector, softening your heart to the healing magic of love.—
Nina Kahn,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
What frustrates you most about navigating love in the digital age?—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Piastri and his camp, led by steely former F1 racer Mark Webber, were frustrated with Alpine’s slow progress towards his F1 graduation.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
According to The Hollywood Reporter, annual fan conventions have been known to draw over 100,000 spectators.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Mary Magdalene, as the patron saint of outcasts, seemed to draw them in, welcoming skeptics like me to make room in our minds for more complex possibilities.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
With its lightweight texture, glowing finish, and ability to safeguard against sun damage and hyperpigmentation, this has all the makings of a universally appealing sunscreen—and has quickly become a staple in my skin-care rotation.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The glowing pink nebula and snakelike dark clouds are the remnant of the birth site of the stars in the cluster.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share