BEATS Synonyms: 628 Similar and Opposite Words

beats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of beat

as in licks

to strike repeatedly they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine

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Relevance

as in defeats

to achieve a victory over she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess

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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

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loses (to)

as in throbs

to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute

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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

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as in frustrates

to prevent from achieving a goal you beat me to it

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as in draws

to shape with a hammer the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords

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as in glows

to shine with a bright harsh light the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy

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as in drums

to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically beat the drum in a marching rhythm

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as in confuses

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty it beats me how that slipup happened

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as in circumvents

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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as in grinds

to reduce to fine particles years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust

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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

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beats

2 of 2

noun

plural of beat

as in blows

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered one hard beat on the drums

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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

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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

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as in heartbeats

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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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of beats

Verb

Fresh salsa always beats jarred, but this fruity version has an unusual twist. — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 Of course, that still beats waiting for Windows 11’s big yearly update in the fall. — Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026 Tedious tasks feel lighter with company, and an evening spent paying bills next to a friend beats another night scrolling alone. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Claude Science is the bet that doing this wiring once, properly, beats a thousand labs each doing it from scratch. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Paraguay beats Germany 4-3 in penalty shootout in biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 England or Ghana are the likeliest candidates unless group mate Panama, who’s already eliminated, beats England on Saturday — in which case rip up your predictions and embrace the chaos. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 27 June 2026 The 10 tracks of Ton Up are at once his briskest and heaviest yet, miniaturizing his trademark loops of Dillafied psychedelia into speaker-rattling sample snippets that bombard uptempo house beats in dizzying volleys. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 For companies such as Ukrainian-Estonian startup Black Forest Systems and Polish unmanned aviation specialist FlyFocus, the lesson of modern war is clear – reliability beats complexity. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026

Noun

Plus, all of the songs put you in a nearly hypnotic trance that forces you to count in your head or tap your foot along to the beats. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 July 2026 The film breathes in a dynamic way, the last few beats taking a startling turn toward a somber wistfulness. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 Because in 2026, the in-office job beats remote for new graduates. — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Those beats are equally in flux, switching between straight-ahead techno and the funky but lead-footed stomp of guaracha, adding to the disorientation. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026 The sun is beaming down on you, the beats in your headphones providing the soundtrack to your summer getaway — the vibes are immaculate. — Nissa Renzo, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Orton, who began as a folk/trip-hop musician 30 years ago on debut record Trailer Park, has held onto the melancholia of her early music, but largely eschewed the electronic dance beats that defined her work. — David Harris, SPIN, 29 June 2026 Within hours, social media feeds filled with music producers recording themselves crafting beats in real time, turning the compact sampler into the center of a viral movement that celebrated creativity over convenience. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beats

Verb

Food stands also debuted that year, with ribs sizzling along with the blues licks.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 June 2026
At one point in a dinner scene, Shields' Erika licks Joey's fingers.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026

Definition of licks

Verb

The cocktail also remained effective against viral variants known to evade single-antibody treatments, demonstrating that combining two antibodies can overcome resistance that defeats either one alone.

— William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Brazil defeats Japan in the final minute, 2-1 Brazil is through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a last-minute goal broke Japanese hearts in Houston in the first game of the day.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

Definition of defeats

Verb

Since then, Lebanese health authorities say more than 4,250 people have been killed — a toll that surpasses the war deaths in Iran but in a country 16 times less populous.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
The borough jails won't be ready and Rikers' current population of about 6,700 inmates surpasses the 4,100-bed capacity of the new facilities.

— Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 29 June 2026

Definition of surpasses

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

Definition of throbs

Verb

Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
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

Definition of flutters

Verb

What frustrates me is when the CTA isn’t there.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Part of what fascinates and frustrates as regards Ginsberg is that for all of those thick anthologies, propriety forces me to concede that many of the poems simply aren’t that good.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Definition of frustrates

Verb

Bringing together images made since 2010, the project draws from different moments in his practice and expands ideas first explored in his 2015 photobook Momentary, with new work continuing to be added as the project evolves.

— PhotoVogue, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Spanning more than 5,000 acres, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge—the nation’s first wildlife refuge—draws birders, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

— Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026