as in psychotic
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
by film's end it's obvious that faded movie star Norma Desmond is completely bats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hits
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a sharp bat with a rolled-up newspaper and that fly was a goner
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in canes
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in knocks
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
batted the lamp off the table with one strike
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
batted the piñata until it finally broke open
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in roams
to move about from place to place aimlessly
on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bats
Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Grab your nail bats and walkie-talkies, because the war against Vecna is officially underway in new footage from the upcoming fifth season of Stranger Things.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025
Two natural bats retail for $245 while a Kith and Swarovski version retails for $5,000.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Pitching labs have helped pitchers learn subtle grip changes that can add a couple inches of break to a slider, or more ride to a fastball, making the pitches that miss bats.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
Team at-bats all around, nobody had a bad at-bat today.
—Devin Bradshaw, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
And the offense continues to take consistent at-bats.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Christian Walker, the $60 million first baseman benched before the game, still struck out in one of the game’s biggest at-bats.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
So while the 27-year-old is one of the most potent bats available, teams will have to decide on his positional fit.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
In addition, humans can contract Ebola from hunting, handling or eating infected animals such as bats, monkeys and antelope.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Grab your nail bats and walkie-talkies, because the war against Vecna is officially underway in new footage from the upcoming fifth season of Stranger Things.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025
Two natural bats retail for $245 while a Kith and Swarovski version retails for $5,000.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Pitching labs have helped pitchers learn subtle grip changes that can add a couple inches of break to a slider, or more ride to a fastball, making the pitches that miss bats.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
Team at-bats all around, nobody had a bad at-bat today.
—Devin Bradshaw, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
And the offense continues to take consistent at-bats.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Christian Walker, the $60 million first baseman benched before the game, still struck out in one of the game’s biggest at-bats.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
So while the 27-year-old is one of the most potent bats available, teams will have to decide on his positional fit.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
And yet when an athlete expresses that same sentiment, nobody bats an eyelash.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
-
Names and backstories are different, but in Pynchon’s text, stoner pianist Zoyd Wheeler is taking odd jobs and government disability checks obtained by staging regular psychotic episodes, when federal agent Brock Vond drives him and his 14-year-old daughter Prairie from their home.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Lockjaw is Bob's psychotic, longtime nemesis, who is obsessed with finding him and his daughter.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hendrickson plays a premium position and still has a lot of juice as a four-time consecutive Pro Bowler who earned first-team All-Pro honors last season and has six QB hits and two sacks through three games in 2025.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
As has been the case for two decades, a multi-genre cultural blend focused on sing-along fun, driven by multi-platinum hits magnified through country music's century of traditions, will be highlighted.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Cover the pot and the bottom few inches of the rose canes with soil, then add a layer of mulch for insulation.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Multiple video cameras captured the dynamic choreo on giant screens behind the stage as McRae and her entourage danced with canes, strutted down a catwalk, seductively gyrated on moving platforms, and even pole-danced.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
First, any major event such as a the emergence of DeepSeek that knocks the AI thesis could have a sizeable impact on the stock market.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
24 Sep. 2025
-
In the video posted on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Public Records Unit YouTube channel, Flores can be seen lifting his head up after an officer knocks on the driver's door window of his stationary vehicle.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
When asked the question, the owl takes the lollipop and licks it three times before chomping down on its hard shell exterior and handing the stick back to the child.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Their nearest relative, the gray wolf, still roams forests and tundras.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Jack the Ripper roams the streets in search of his next victim.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t be mad, and don’t try to hold them back with guilt.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Karl turned on the headlights and got the windshield wipers going at a mad slap.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The assailant stopped mid-speech and delivered two blows straight to Antao’s face.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Large companies can absorb the blows, but the dry cleaner, toy importer, or family-run retailer cannot.—
Jacob Bennett,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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