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Synonyms

beat back

Idioms  

  1. Force to retreat or withdraw, as in His findings beat back all their arguments to the contrary. This phrase was often used in a military context (and still is), as in Their armies were beaten back. [Late 1500s]

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.

OpenAI executives are hoping that unifying its products under one app will allow it to streamline resources as it seeks to beat back the success of its rival Anthropic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

If you opt for private sessions, there’s a misconception that it will involve revealing your innermost secrets, perhaps while lying on a couch, as a therapist prods you to beat back your demons.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026

In early October, CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator went on Bloomberg TV and tried to beat back the revolt.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

Crowley on Friday contradicted that narrative, drawing a connection between reductions to her department’s operations and the struggle to beat back the wildfires.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2025

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

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.