beat back

VERB

repel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chase away confront drive away drive off fend off hold off rebuff resist ward off withstand

STRONG

buck check cool cut decline dismiss disown dispute duel fight kick oppose parry rebut refuse reject traverse

WEAK

beat off brush off cast aside drive back force back force off give cold shoulder to hold back keep at arm's length keep at bay keep off knock down push back put down put to flight stand up against stave off turn down

Antonyms

STRONG

accept agree aid allow approve assist help increase sanction support

WEAK

attract draw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Themes may emerge: how you beat back adversity, sacrificed for others or discovered new ways to love.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Norwegian family drama, Sentimental Value, beat back stiff competition in the best film not in the English language category, including Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

In other words, it’s riveting prose about how humans beat back despair.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

After raising rates to beat back inflation in 2022-23, the Fed began cutting rates last year and the Dow has surged to record after record.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

Barack ran on the treadmill about an hour every day, trying to beat back his physical restlessness.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

beat back

Example Sentences

Related Words