Synonyms of beat
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as in to lick 
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as in to defeat
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as in to surpass
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as in to throb
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as in to flutter
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as in to frustrate
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as in to draw
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as in to glow
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as in to drum
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as in to confuse
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as in to circumvent
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as in to grind
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as in to cheat
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as in blow
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as in pulse
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as in rhythm
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as in minute
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as in tired
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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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
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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
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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
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6
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
you beat me to it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
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9
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
beat the drum in a marching rhythm
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10
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it beats me how that slipup happened
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of beat
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2025
Inside his bedroom, authorities located the items he was beaten with, according to prosecutors, who said blood was found on the iron and at least one drawer.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
While the profit lag impacted stock performance, the revenue beat reflects underlying business strength and potential for recovery.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Jan. 2025
The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024
Shortstop Miguel Rojas is so beat up he was restricted to the bench.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beat 
Verb
The Sixers were on the second night of a back to back having beat the Lakers on Tuesday, 118-104.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2025
Inside his bedroom, authorities located the items he was beaten with, according to prosecutors, who said blood was found on the iron and at least one drawer.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
On the title track, a bleeping beat encircles the listener like the walls of a downward-spiraling tunnel, while Twigs seems to sing from miles above, somewhere in the sky.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
While the profit lag impacted stock performance, the revenue beat reflects underlying business strength and potential for recovery.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face by Edna Buchanan
Amazon
Edna Buchanan was a beat reporter for the Miami Herald, and this book, which came out in the late eighties, is a kind of journalistic memoir about her eighteen-year career covering crime there.
—The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024
Shortstop Miguel Rojas is so beat up he was restricted to the bench.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
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Buffy loves to groom—in other words, lick—my hair, probably as an act of dominance, according to my vet.—
Elizabeth Denton,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2025
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Having another week off to lick wounds is pretty nice, too.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs defeated her opponent, state appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin, by 734 votes in November's election.—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
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However, opponent Kirsty-Lee Davies defeated Haynes to ensure the championship went to a biological female.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Wiggins surpassed his previous career high of 28 points.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Feb. 2025
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Layoffs and unemployment rates are low despite elevated interest rates and inflation, and U.S. employers surpassed analyst expectations by adding 256,000 jobs in December. Need a break?—
Bailey Schulz,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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It’s heard in markets or throbbing from taxi radios and speakers in rickety roadside bars.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2025
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From the ankle that throbs as if it had been twisted, to the head that feels as if it had been placed in a bench vise, the body is a ladder whose rungs are aches and pains.—
Richard Brookhiser,
National Review,
21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Icy winds fluttered the camouflage netting concealing the vehicle.—
Erin Banco, Anastasiia Malenko,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
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In a cemetery on the outskirts of Sumy this month, row upon row of blue and gold Ukrainian flags fluttered in a cold wind.—
Marc Santora,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some were frustrated the state is also not paying off its $20 billion in unemployment debt accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacramento Bee,
31 Jan. 2025
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Watkins looked up to the scoreboard, frustrated, as if to demand an answer.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Davis’ support for less-dense development will draw the attention of commissioners and the development community, which has a big say in city politics.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Jan. 2025
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Though Carroll is now officially with the Raiders, his candidacy has also drawn significant attention from the Dallas Cowboys.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The star glowed in a metallic bronze La Pointe gown with a plunging halter neckline.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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The star literally glowed wearing a sparkling gold two-piece set, complete with gold decal stickers pasted on her stomach.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near beat
Cite this Entry
“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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