1
as in blow
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
Relevance
2
as in cane
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 to knock
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 to lick
to strike repeatedly
batted the piñata until it finally broke open
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to roam
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bat
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Eventually, other teams started working with the bat company as well, and the bat-makers spent about eighteen months tinkering with the swing weight, refining and customizing the new bats for players willing to experiment.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Sophomore catcher Dezi Delgado of Sierra Canyon is batting .490 with nine doubles and 15 RBIs.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bat
Noun
While Warren wasn’t able to shut the Pirates down, the Yankees’ bats didn’t help their cause after Chisholm’s double.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Eventually, other teams started working with the bat company as well, and the bat-makers spent about eighteen months tinkering with the swing weight, refining and customizing the new bats for players willing to experiment.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
As a regular last spring, Kyros batted .343 with four doubles, three home runs and 22 RBIs.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Sophomore catcher Dezi Delgado of Sierra Canyon is batting .490 with nine doubles and 15 RBIs.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bat
Noun
-
More price hikes provide a psychological blow that shakes consumer confidence.—
Rohit Arora,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The result is just tit-for-tat subversion and another blow to America’s supposedly nonpartisan system of justice.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Cut Stems Back Using your bypass pruners, cut live canes back to 12 inches tall.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Green, who is Black, regularly uses a cane to walk around the Capitol and has done so for years.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The next day, animal control officers returned to the home and knocked on the door, but no one answered, authorities said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Jey landed a big uppercut early in the match that knocked Gunther on his butt.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The race is being widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats who at the national level are still licking their 2024 election wounds, as well as a potential referendum on Trump and Musk.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Cora appears to enjoy the routine and happily lets the cat lick at the tufts of blonde hair on her head.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The dogs were reported by passersby who alerted the KC Pet Project that dogs appeared to be dumped and roaming the area.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The other two dogs, who were able to roam the property, were found alive and taken into care.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rami Sinno is crouched beside a filing cabinet, wrestling a beach-ball sized disc out of a box, when a dull thump echoes around his laboratory.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Then the silence was broken by the loud thump of Olive’s .38/40.—
Horace R. Hinkley,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The baton came back to him once Paramount Plus gave a green light to The Challenge: All Stars, and OGs like himself were given a second shot at glory.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The baton passes, rather frenetically, to other standout friends, too.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
-
New York’s forward did so by staying attached through the bazillion screens Detroit set and recovering when he was hit.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bat. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share