beating
noun
beat·ing ˈbē-tiŋ 
1
: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage
also : the injury or damage thus inflicted
2
: pulsation
3
: defeat, setback
Synonyms
- beat
- palpitation
- pulsation
- pulse
- throb
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart took a beating and ended up in second place
Recent Examples on the Web QB Joe Burrow took a beating last season but nearly won the Super Bowl in just his second season. 
Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2022 Markets took a beating last week — and that's not necessarily a bad thing, according to one Fed official. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 Gopuff had planned to go public this year but put off listing as the market slid and tech stocks took a beating. Preetika Rana, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 Its stock took a beating, plummeting from an all-time high of $83.11 last September to $11.91 in mid-June. Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 28 July 2022 Venom and its sequel were box office hits, but each took a beating from critics. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 19 July 2022 Fourth, my picks are all shares that took a beating in the recent selloff that isn’t justified by their fundamentals. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 July 2022 While no serious injuries were reported, Magna’s historic downtown took a beating, with brick facades and parapets tumbling onto the sidewalks. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 June 2022 The theatrical business took a beating during COVID, even as streaming services surged. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 May 2022 See More
Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2022 Markets took a beating last week — and that's not necessarily a bad thing, according to one Fed official. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 Gopuff had planned to go public this year but put off listing as the market slid and tech stocks took a beating. Preetika Rana, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 Its stock took a beating, plummeting from an all-time high of $83.11 last September to $11.91 in mid-June. Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 28 July 2022 Venom and its sequel were box office hits, but each took a beating from critics. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 19 July 2022 Fourth, my picks are all shares that took a beating in the recent selloff that isn’t justified by their fundamentals. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 July 2022 While no serious injuries were reported, Magna’s historic downtown took a beating, with brick facades and parapets tumbling onto the sidewalks. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 June 2022 The theatrical business took a beating during COVID, even as streaming services surged. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English betynge, from gerund of beten "to beat entry 1"
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing beating
beating 1 of 2
noun
1
as in pulse
a rhythmic expanding and contracting he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pulse
- beat
- throb
- tremor
- palpitation
- pulsation
- fluctuation
- vibration
- oscillation
- tremble
- quiver
2
as in defeat
failure to win a contest took a beating and ended up in second place Synonyms & Similar Words
- defeat
- loss
- whipping
- licking
- trouncing
- setback
- trimming
- drubbing
- overthrow
- rout
- plastering
- shellacking
- failure
- upset
- lump
- collapse
- shutout
- flop
- nonsuccess
- fiasco
- debacle
- fizzle
- washout
- lurch
- whitewash
- débâcle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- victory
- win
- success
- triumph
- accomplishment
- achievement
- sweep
- runaway
- blowout
- landslide
- cakewalk
- romp
- walkover
- walkaway
beating
2 of 2verb
1
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine Synonyms & Similar Words
- pounding
- licking
- whipping
- lashing
- battering
- hiding
- knocking
- slapping
- pelting
- punching
- hitting
- thumping
- attacking
- doing
- smashing
- assaulting
- pummeling
- slamming
- spanking
- mauling
- bashing
- hammering
- chopping
- thrashing
- bludgeoning
- batting
- smacking
- flogging
- whacking
- raiding
- storming
- pummelling
- paddling
- walloping
- drubbing
- whupping
- clubbing
- switching
- buffeting
- slogging
- lambasting
- boxing
- lathering
- slating
- belting
- whopping
- tanning
- wounding
- punching out
- cracking
- working over
- swiping
- whapping
- currying
- whaling
- fibbing
- clobbering
- threshing
- beating up on
- tromping
- birching
- pommeling
- pommelling
- rushing
- basting
- belaboring
- lacing
- swatting
- socking
- cuffing
- strapping
- thwacking
- assailing
- busting
- pasting
- bunging up
- lamming
- flagellating
- whomping
- cudgeling
- scourging
- caning
- clouting
- cudgelling
- roughing (up)
- lacerating
- messing (up)
- pistol-whipping
- mutilating
- whamming
- laying on
- maiming
- besetting
- leathering
- horsewhipping
- mangling
- goring
- blackjacking
- fustigating
- cowhiding
- descending (on or upon)
- rawhiding
- jumping (on)
- pouncing (on or upon)
2
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess Synonyms & Similar Words
- defeating
- overcoming
- mastering
- getting
- taking
- conquering
- stopping
- dispatching
- subduing
- licking
- surmounting
- succeeding
- besting
- trimming
- upending
- overmatching
- finishing
- burying
- crushing
- whipping
- getting around
- overbearing
- doing down
- slaughtering
- thrashing
- sweeping
- scoring
- clobbering
- surpassing
- skunking
- trouncing
- worsting
- exceeding
- annihilating
- overwhelming
- breaking
- pipping
- knocking for a loop
- walloping
- flattening
- upsetting
- creaming
- getting the better of
- triumphing (over)
- drubbing
- excelling
- capping
- vanquishing
- bombing
- topping
- winning (against)
- prevailing (over)
- subjugating
- flourishing
- outdoing
- smoking
- skinning
- routing
- shellacking
- overthrowing
- blowing out
- outshining
- excelling
- unseating
- overpowering
- outdistancing
- blowing away
- waxing
- eclipsing
- transcending
- bettering
- outstripping
- knocking over
- knocking off
- outfighting
- nosing out
- overtopping
- snowing under
- edging (out)
- acing (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- falling
- losing (to)
- failing
- collapsing
- folding
- flopping
- flunking
- washing out
- going down
- going under
- giving up
3
as in exceeding
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
- exceeding
- surpassing
- topping
- eclipsing
- outdoing
- outshining
- excelling
- defeating
- outdistancing
- outclassing
- overcoming
- transcending
- bettering
- outstripping
- outmatching
- outgunning
- mastering
- outrunning
- overtopping
- outpacing
- overshadowing
- clobbering
- whipping
- trouncing
- outracing
- running rings around
- thrashing
- licking
- outperforming
- conquering
- subduing
- outweighing
- besting
- crushing
- towering (over)
- surmounting
- running circles around
- shaming
- going one better
- drubbing
- trumping
- walloping
- one-upping
- routing
- overmatching
- outcompeting
- trimming
- overpassing
- worsting
- overbearing
- outbalancing
- skunking
- triumphing (over)
- winning (against)
- prevailing (over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- losing (to)
4
as in throbbing
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute Synonyms & Similar Words
- throbbing
- pulsing
- palpitating
- pulsating
- vibrating
- trembling
- quivering
- pitter-pattering
- fluctuating
- pit-a-patting
- oscillating
5
as in fluttering
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
- fluttering
- flapping
- whipping
- battering
- knocking
- flailing
- thumping
- waving
- banging
- pounding
- smacking
- flopping
- flicking
- spanking
- swinging
- swaying
- flickering
- fanning
- throbbing
- pulsing
- oscillating
- buffeting
- undulating
- flitting
- palpitating
6
as in thwarting
to prevent from achieving a goal you beat me to it Synonyms & Similar Words
- defeating
- thwarting
- frustrating
- hampering
- preventing
- overcoming
- baffling
- stopping
- balking
- impeding
- foiling
- hindering
- checkmating
- halting
- discomfiting
- stalling
- obstructing
- handicapping
- blocking
- arresting
- hobbling
- shackling
- checking
- clogging
- conquering
- inhibiting
- precluding
- forestalling
- nullifying
- trammelling
- holding back
- tying up
- counteracting
- encumbering
- neutralizing
- barring
- fettering
- averting
- setting back
- obviating
- offsetting
- manacling
- tieing up
- negating
- trammeling
- short-circuiting
- interfering (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- advancing
- promoting
- encouraging
- assisting
- fostering
- cultivating
- aiding
- furthering
- forwarding
- nurturing
- facilitating
- abetting
- smoothing
- easing
7
as in drawing
to shape with a hammer the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords Synonyms & Similar Words
- drawing
- pounding
- hammering
- forging
- fashioning
- carving
- chasing
- molding
- stamping
- patting
- working
- cutting
- planishing
- forming
- sculpting
- kneading
- modeling
- boasting
- chiseling
- coining
- hewing
- sculpturing
- modelling
- chiselling
- minting
- graving
- knapping
- abating
8
as in burning
to shine with a bright harsh light the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy Synonyms & Similar Words
- burning
- glowing
- blazing
- flaring
- gleaming
- flashing
- glaring
- flaming
- glancing
- beaming
- glinting
- glistening
- radiating
- blinding
- sparkling
- glittering
- shimmering
- glimmering
- dazzling
- twinkling
- dazing
- glistering
- scintillating
- bedazzling
9
as in tapping
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically beat the drum in a marching rhythm Synonyms & Similar Words
- tapping
- drumming
- banging
- pounding
- patting
- hitting
- rapping
- knocking
- clapping
- thumping
- smacking
- slamming
- whacking
- hammering
- bashing
- thudding
- bopping
- batting
- thwacking
- socking
- walloping
- bonking
- clicking
- swatting
- pasting
- pinging
- flicking
- clattering
- clinking
- striking
- tipping
- chucking
- chinking
- pitter-pattering
- pit-a-patting
10
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty it beats me how that slipup happened Synonyms & Similar Words
- baffling
- puzzling
- perplexing
- confusing
- bewildering
- rattling
- getting
- posing
- bothering
- flustering
- graveling
- muddling
- embarrassing
- addling
- upsetting
- stunning
- disturbing
- bamboozling
- mystifying
- disorienting
- sticking
- muddying
- flummoxing
- confounding
- befuddling
- fuddling
- vexing
- discombobulating
- befogging
- buffaloing
- gravelling
- bemusing
- stumping
- unsettling
- agitating
- mazing
- foxing
- blowing one's mind
- distressing
- disconcerting
- tricking
- mortifying
- going to one's head
- fooling
- discountenancing
- deceiving
- discomposing
- fazing
- perturbing
- disquieting
- discomfiting
- deluding
- duping
- discomforting
- unhinging
- abashing
- nonplussing
- misleading
- gulling
- dismaying
- weirding out
- chagrining
- hoodwinking
- humbugging
- misguiding
- snowing
- nonplusing
- taking in
- stringing along
- hoaxing
- cozening
- beguiling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- assuring
- satisfying
- informing
- reassuring
- enlightening
11
as in circumventing
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness he spends all of his time trying to beat the system Synonyms & Similar Words
- circumventing
- evading
- avoiding
- ignoring
- escaping
- bypassing
- disobeying
- dodging
- shaking
- preventing
- shortcutting
- sidestepping
- eluding
- shunning
- eschewing
- skirting
- deflecting
- outflanking
- disregarding
- ducking
- getting around
- flouting
- parrying
- end-running
- shirking
- averting
- obviating
- diverting
- warding (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- keeping
- observing
- obeying
- following
- complying (with)
- pursuing
- seeking
- accepting
- embracing
- courting
- catching
- incurring
- contracting
- welcoming
- assenting (to)
- acceding (to)
- acquiescing (to)
12
as in crushing
to reduce to fine particles years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust Synonyms & Similar Words
- pounding
- crushing
- grinding
- pulverizing
- smashing
- disintegrating
- breaking
- milling
- crumbling
- braying
- powdering
- mulling
- grating
- shattering
- atomizing
- comminuting
- fracturing
- crunching
- busting
- fragmenting
- dashing
- splintering
- kibbling
- micronizing
13
as in squeezing
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
- squeezing
- cheating
- stinging
- sticking
- plucking
- hustling
- screwing
- doing
- bleeding
- victimizing
- defrauding
- tricking
- deceiving
- fleecing
- swindling
- shortchanging
- reaming
- stiffing
- rooking
- exploiting
- chiseling
- hosing
- betraying
- fiddling
- bilking
- conning
- skinning
- mulcting
- suckering
- diddling
- gaffing
- fooling
- shorting
- shaking down
- extorting
- nobbling
- chiselling
- chousing
- ripping off
- euchring
- thimblerigging
- wrenching
- gouging
- flimflamming
- soaking
- cozening
- nicking
- skunking
- wresting
- clipping
- taking for a ride
- doing in
- overcharging
- milking
- taking to the cleaners
- wringing
- selling a bill of goods to
- duping
- gulling
- bitching
- bamboozling
- double-crossing
- roping (in)
- fast-talking