BATS Synonyms: 354 Similar and Opposite Words

bats 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbats

Definition of bats

as in psychotic

unable to think in a clear or sensible way by film's end it's obvious that faded movie star Norma Desmond is completely bats

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bats

2 of 3

noun

plural of bat

as in hits

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

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as in canes

a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas

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bats

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of bat

as in knocks

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner batted the lamp off the table with one strike

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as in licks

to strike repeatedly batted the piñata until it finally broke open

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as in roams

to move about from place to place aimlessly on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside

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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 bats

Noun

The Guardians won Game 1 by breaking out their bats, but neither team hit particularly well in Game 2, when a crucial error cost Cleveland. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Watching games with base runners, tough at-bats and actual strategy by managers is much more enjoyable than strikeouts and home runs with no one on base. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Every Halloween season, wildlife rehabilitation centers across the country see cases in which birds, bats, snakes, rodents, deer and other wild animals become injured or entangled in seasonal decorations. — Katie Koschalk, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026 Other free-agents-to-be include starter Martín Pérez and reliever Brent Suter, plus bench bats Lane Thomas and Dominic Smith. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 When Fried gave up a run apiece in the third and fourth innings, the bats responded each time to tie the score. — Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Burke almost silences Cleveland's bats Burke came on with one out in the third. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Health officials are urging residents not to touch bats, including bats that appear sick or dead. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

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 Over the summer, Rojas, who bats from the right side, impressed Mets staffers with his aptitude and ability to access power. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2026 Visitors can also follow a small leafy trail to Kelayang Cave, where hanging bats doze after a night of feasting. — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 New York catcher Alyssa Zettlemoyer worked with Henley, as did Maggie Foxx, who bats fourth for the Los Angeles Queens. — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior first baseman not only starts but also bats cleanup for the Wildcats, who have returned to the state semifinals. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 With the light nearly gone — the UMass Dartmouth field doesn’t have lights — Callahan silenced the Raiders bats one more time and this eventually led to the decision to pause the game. — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026 Schmidt, who bats and throws left, led off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single to right field. — Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 Inés has been raised in a world of strange ellipses, and hardly bats an eye when the hotel bartender goes quiet after someone mentions his missing brother, but Hanna (Maia Rae Domagala) is a different story. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats

Adjective

It may also be used to treat certain other psychotic conditions, such as psychosis arising in Parkinson disease.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026
At trial, a neurological expert testified that Linton had a seizure in the lead up to the collision, and a psychiatrist said Linton displayed psychotic symptoms weeks after the crash that were consistent with the aftermath of a seizure.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of psychotic

Noun

Ahead of rocking the Pond with its classic hits, the famed norteño band brought its signature sound and activism to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Holland, one insider with knowledge of Netflix observed to Variety, built a business of boutique hits.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hits

Noun

Questions that have been proposed for removal deal with memory, fatigue, arthritis, difficulty walking and climbing stairs, as well as others about the use of hearing aids, canes, wheelchairs and scooters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
This is because fruit development consumes much of the vine’s energy, so removing the fruit at this point allows the vine’s energy to continue to develop a strong cordon, canes (vertical shoots), and root system.

— The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of canes

Verb

At one point, the pair crack up while lying in the same bed, and later, the Eras headliner knocks a cup off a sink, making the Fifty Shades of Grey actress break character.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
With two outs in the opening frame, Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca ripped consecutive RBI knocks to put Tampa Bay up 2-0.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of knocks

Verb

That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.

— Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of licks

Verb

When the Farmer destroys the flock’s beloved pumpkin patch, Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, only for events to spiral out of control as a wild beast roams the woods of Mossingham.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
Ripper Row — Jack the Ripper roams the streets in search of his next victim.

— Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of roams

Adjective

The ball popped out of his glove and fell in front of him, creating a bit of a mad scramble for Ramírez.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Some reports have suggested that Harry knew the contents of the memoir before it was published, which reportedly adds to William’s reasons to be mad at his brother.

— StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of mad

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bats

adjective

noun

verb

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