1
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in defeats
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 surpasses
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
as in throbs
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in flutters
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 frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
as in glows
to shine with a bright harsh light
the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in drums
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
Synonyms & Similar Words
10
as in confuses
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in circumvents
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
as in grinds
to reduce to fine particles
years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust
Synonyms & Similar Words
13
as in plucks
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 blows
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 pulses
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 rhythms
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 heartbeats
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of beats
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
But nothing beats their monthly visits to the High Museum of Art in Midtown Atlanta.
—Monique John, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Georgetown, led by junior center Patrick Ewing and freshman forward Reggie Williams, beats Houston 84-75 to win the NCAA championship in Seattle.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Well, this sure beats the alternative for Texas Rangers fans.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
A couple of hours on a ladder now beats writing a massive check to a contractor later.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Of course, nothing beats the real thing.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
Because of its location—facing the St-Lawrence River and the Old Port—nothing beats watching summer fireworks from Terrasse sur l’Auberge up on the roof.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Why ice beats batteries for this job The energy density of ice as a thermal storage medium is impressive.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Your diastolic pressure is measured when your heart is resting between beats.
—Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2026
Inside, the automatic PF770 caliber beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and delivers a solid 60-hour power reserve.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Parker has this incredible knack for making hooks and beats that are catchy enough to be the next viral audio on TikTok, while still being a genuinely good song.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
Fetal heart rate measured at 156 beats per minute.
—Emily Brindley
health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The plot centered on a choice between ambition and friendship, and the emotional beats hold up years later.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
The story’s concept and broad beats are not subversive or esoteric.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
Apple recently introduced AutoMix, which uses AI to analyze songs and automatically blend tracks by matching tempo and beats, eliminating silence between songs, adding crossfades and so on.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Enraged, Misha's boyfriend barrels across the room and beats Charlie up, and Emma flees the banquet hall.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
But nothing beats their monthly visits to the High Museum of Art in Midtown Atlanta.
—Monique John, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Georgetown, led by junior center Patrick Ewing and freshman forward Reggie Williams, beats Houston 84-75 to win the NCAA championship in Seattle.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Well, this sure beats the alternative for Texas Rangers fans.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
A couple of hours on a ladder now beats writing a massive check to a contractor later.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Of course, nothing beats the real thing.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
Because of its location—facing the St-Lawrence River and the Old Port—nothing beats watching summer fireworks from Terrasse sur l’Auberge up on the roof.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Why ice beats batteries for this job The energy density of ice as a thermal storage medium is impressive.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Over beats as blunt, chromatic, and gleefully stupid as a Jeff Koons sculpture, the singer has vied to make hyperpop more garish and alarming by being hornier, messier, and more extreme than her peers.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Your diastolic pressure is measured when your heart is resting between beats.
—Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2026
Inside, the automatic PF770 caliber beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and delivers a solid 60-hour power reserve.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Parker has this incredible knack for making hooks and beats that are catchy enough to be the next viral audio on TikTok, while still being a genuinely good song.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
Fetal heart rate measured at 156 beats per minute.
—Emily Brindley
health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The plot centered on a choice between ambition and friendship, and the emotional beats hold up years later.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
The story’s concept and broad beats are not subversive or esoteric.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
Apple recently introduced AutoMix, which uses AI to analyze songs and automatically blend tracks by matching tempo and beats, eliminating silence between songs, adding crossfades and so on.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beats
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
-
If Mexico defeats Italy, they are guaranteed to move on, leaving the final spot between Team USA and Italy.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Learning from losing Anthony Edwards is stealing the superpowers of whoever defeats him.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Senate Bill 516 would set the rate at 5 cents if the bottle redemption rate — the number of containers returned divided by the number sold — of the state, or any distributor, surpasses 100% in 2026.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This functionality far surpasses the limits of Bluetooth multipoint.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Alesia and Mike’s constant absent-mindedness frustrates Jenna and Daisy.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One result of the existing system is that vote tabulations in California go on for weeks, something that frustrates the public and the media, and, in the current atmosphere, helps fuel suspicion of electoral skullduggery.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Surrounded by 28 acres of grapevines and rolling farmland, this beautiful resort draws its look from the working countryside with standalone-style only accommodations, luxury amenities, and a polished farm-house design.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The tourney is a player favorite, and draws all the big names like Scheffler, McIlroy, Fleetwood, Bradley and more.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hundreds of monarch butterflies are painted across the translucent panels, and when sunlight shines through, the structure glows in rich amber tones.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a small LED indicator on the top of the device that pulses white when the sensor is ready for setup, briefly glows red when motion is detected, and briefly flashes green and blue during a reset.—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beats. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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