battered

adjective

bat·​tered ˈba-tərd 

1

: damaged or worn down by hard use

a battered old hat

a battered truck

2

: injured by repeated blows

the victim's battered body

a boxer's battered face

3

: subjected to repeated physical abuse

providing help for battered wives/children

… the store turned into an impromptu women's crisis center, where battered women and mothers trying to rescue their daughters from abusive dads gravitated.

—Donna Minkowitz

Examples of battered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie brings back Hemsworth’s Rake, who is tasked with a new mission — rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025

On his first day back, in the sixth inning, this battered ballclub needed one out from a bullpen that had already been punched in the gut. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025

Chalk it up to the culinary Americana of battered and fried cheese. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 22 July 2025

Where, in a far-off future land, a rogue mechanical Robot Carnival machine wreaks havoc and destruction across a battered desert landscape. —Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing battered

• battered child syndrome
• battered woman syndrome

Rhymes for battered

• backscattered
• chattered
• clattered
• flattered
• mattered
• pattered
• scattered
• shattered
• spattered
• splattered
• tattered