battering

noun

bat·​ter·​ing ˈba-tə-riŋ How to pronounce battering (audio)
1
: violent physical abuse that usually involves the act of striking someone repeatedly or heavily in order to cause injury
Feminists turned violence against women, previously a well-kept secret, into a public political issue; made rape, incest, battering and sexual harassment understood as crimes; and got public funding for shelters for battered women.The Nation
2
: a damaging experience or situation : an injury, setback, or defeat
That was the year Canada rebounded from a 28–4 battering in the round-robin to beat the U.S. 17–16 in the championship final …Bob Kravitz
While her confidence took a battering [=was damaged], she kept a game face throughout the season.Sally Bedell Smith

Examples of battering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nathan Babb, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to domestic battering. Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 12 Dec. 2024 For a moment, the battering of Hezbollah and questions about its postwar future could not be further away, as the sun begins to set and the warm breeze blows. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec. 2024 The battering of cold weather outside and comfort of warm air inside means your lips are likely to be left feeling a little parched. Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024 Wind gusts of over 100 miles per hours and record rainfall caused significant destruction in the Tampa Bay area, including the battering of the city’s famous ballpark in St. Petersburg. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for battering 

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of battering was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near battering

Cite this Entry

“Battering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battering. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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