Thesaurus results for BATTER

Q: How does the verb 'batter' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of batter are cripple , maim , mangle , and mutilate . While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate. // an old ship battered by fierce storms

Q: When is 'cripple' a more appropriate choice than 'batter'?

The synonyms cripple and batter are sometimes interchangeable, but cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg. // crippled for life in an accident

Q: When can 'maim' be used instead of 'batter'?

While in some cases nearly identical to batter , maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence. // maimed by a shark

Q: When is it sensible to use 'mangle' instead of 'batter'?

In some situations, the words mangle and batter are roughly equivalent. However, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds. // a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Q: In what contexts can 'mutilate' take the place of 'batter'?

Although the words mutilate and batter have much in common, mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function. // a tree mutilated by inept pruning

batter

verb

ˈba-tər

Definition of batter

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly children battered the piñata until it broke open

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to bomb

to use bombs or artillery against planes battered the city for weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb batter contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of batter are cripple, maim, mangle, and mutilate. While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate.

an old ship battered by fierce storms

When is cripple a more appropriate choice than batter?

The synonyms cripple and batter are sometimes interchangeable, but cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg.

crippled for life in an accident

When can maim be used instead of batter?

While in some cases nearly identical to batter, maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence.

maimed by a shark

When is it sensible to use mangle instead of batter?

In some situations, the words mangle and batter are roughly equivalent. However, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

In what contexts can mutilate take the place of batter?

Although the words mutilate and batter have much in common, mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function.

a tree mutilated by inept pruning

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 batter Due to changing storm patterns, the kelp forests are also battered by more damaging winter swells, according to Scripps associate researcher Ed Parnell. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The indirect talks come as the conflict, which is entering its eighth month, has caused global economic damage and badly battered Iran. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026 Brigantine officials are assessing what could amount to tens of millions of dollars in damage after a powerful nor'easter battered the Jersey Shore, washing away large portions of the beach and damaging the city's promenade. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 The relatively calm state has been battered by the effects of multiple hurricanes, including Lala, Lowell and now Nolo, as the eastern and central Pacific have churned out at least 19 named storms. — Ryan Chandler, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for batter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for batter

Verb

Carter is licking his wounds after the rest of the tribe sent Ana home in a blindside.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Typically, only a low-value male resorts to this behavior, turning to foot-licking as the easiest way to ingratiate himself with women.

— Tucker Reals, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

Early that morning, an Argentinean naval tug had been bombed by the British, destroying its communications systems.

— Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Patinkin is the latest star to voice his support for Digger after the film was savaged by many critics and bombed at the box office.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bomb

Verb

Extreme tropical weather led to two deaths in Mexico and caused widespread damage over the weekend as Hurricane Simon pounded the country's Pacific coast, authorities said Monday.

— JAIMIE DING, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Rain pounded Las Vegas, which broke a daily rainfall record Sunday.

— Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of pound

Verb

Additionally, six facilities were cited for health food violations including old rodent droppings on the floor near chicken packaging and shelled eggs stored improperly.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a statement Thursday that the strikes were carried out after eight drones were launched from Afghanistan and Afghan forces shelled Pakistani border posts.

— MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of shell

Verb

Over the weekend, Hurricane Simon lashed at the country's Pacific Coast as a Category 4 hurricane.

— Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
Tropical storm-force winds began to lash the Gulf shoreline around midday, hours before Isaias was expected to make landfall between Mobile Bay on the Alabama coast and the city of Destin in the Florida Panhandle.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of lash

Verb

Marsee — who bats and throws with his left hand — is undergoing a UCL reconstruction on his left elbow, as opposed to a full repair, and is expected to be ready for game action in six months.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Important-sounding acronyms are batted about to suggest internal guardrails — like MSI (Meaningful Social Interactions), CIT (Civic Integrity Team) or SATF (Soft Action Task Force).

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of bat

Verb

My opponent should be condemning political violence, not whipping it up.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
In whipping rain and wind in New Jersey, the New York Giants held on for a 12-7 win in their first game since quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of whip

Verb

Rhys-Davies is the archangel Raphael, who hides the star’s light inside her heart, and Boneta is Joshua, a stranger with a difficult history who goes on the run with her.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Measure your numbers, work with a clinician and stop treating hormone health as something to hide.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of hide

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“Batter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/batter. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of batter

verb

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Know Your Baseball Idioms

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on batter

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