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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
October 23 – November 21 By midday, steadiness beats speed at work.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 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
Take the quiz here … NO BEEF ABOUT IT — Texas chain beats McDonald's, Burger King on value.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned impulse buy that makes your inner child feel seen.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Still, apprentices Justin, Jeff, and Meg, told us this beats their old jobs.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Lowend pioneer Munch Lauren once told me that the reason Milwaukee beats sound like that—like the Energizer Bunny strapped to the drums, just a few ticks off from New Orleans bounce—is because folks would literally dance to bounce tracks in the clubs in the early 2010s.
—Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Follow along for highlights as Texas beats Baylor at McCombs Field.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
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 adventurous rapper and producer take a more refined approach on a collaborative album full of wandering thoughts and odd, understated beats.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 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
The company said that this gives creative teams unprecedented flexibility, as directors and designers can iterate quickly, refining aesthetics and story beats in real time.
—Faye Bradley, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
The pool bar and open-air lobby pump out smooth beats into the night, and The Rooftop becomes shoulder-to-shoulder at sunset and stays that way until late.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
With some 460 components, the JCAM50 caliber beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and provides a 72-hour power reserve.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
October 23 – November 21 By midday, steadiness beats speed at work.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 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
Take the quiz here … NO BEEF ABOUT IT — Texas chain beats McDonald's, Burger King on value.
—FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned impulse buy that makes your inner child feel seen.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Still, apprentices Justin, Jeff, and Meg, told us this beats their old jobs.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Lowend pioneer Munch Lauren once told me that the reason Milwaukee beats sound like that—like the Energizer Bunny strapped to the drums, just a few ticks off from New Orleans bounce—is because folks would literally dance to bounce tracks in the clubs in the early 2010s.
—Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Follow along for highlights as Texas beats Baylor at McCombs Field.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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 adventurous rapper and producer take a more refined approach on a collaborative album full of wandering thoughts and odd, understated beats.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 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
The company said that this gives creative teams unprecedented flexibility, as directors and designers can iterate quickly, refining aesthetics and story beats in real time.
—Faye Bradley, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
The pool bar and open-air lobby pump out smooth beats into the night, and The Rooftop becomes shoulder-to-shoulder at sunset and stays that way until late.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
With some 460 components, the JCAM50 caliber beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and provides a 72-hour power reserve.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 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
-
Although Texas’ high school graduation rate surpasses the national average, the state trails in the share of young adults with four-year college degrees.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This meticulous process is all in the name of snagged that Master Chronometer label, meaning that the timepiece is highly accurate and surpasses the threshold for ultra-high performance.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
26 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
-
Sports-rights fragmentation frustrates plenty of fans.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The water allocation giving priority to agriculture frustrates Everglades advocates.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Medina said the cap often draws attention from Jews and non-Jews alike.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Southland has also seen more rattlesnakes, with two recent human fatalities, as the early heat draws more serpents onto hiking trails.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The robot carries a hose that glows in dark, smoky environments.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Behind them, Guardian Angel Catholic Church in East Hollywood glows with worn blue plaster walls against the SoCal golden-hour sun.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beats. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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