battering
noun
bat·ter·ing
| \ ˈba-tə-riŋ
\
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Definition of battering
1
: violent physical abuse that usually involves the act of striking someone repeatedly or heavily in order to cause injury
Feminists turned violence against women, previously a well-kept secret, into a public political issue; made rape, incest, battering and sexual harassment understood as crimes; and got public funding for shelters for battered women. — The Nation
2
: a damaging experience or situation : an injury, setback, or defeat
That was the year Canada rebounded from a 28–4 battering in the round-robin to beat the U.S. 17–16 in the championship final …— Bob Kravitz While her confidence took a battering [=was damaged], she kept a game face throughout the season.— Sally Bedell Smith
Examples of battering in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But with a new season ahead and a new offense in place, the battering ram who couldn’t catch has the chance to be much more. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, "Can’t catch? USC’s Markese Stepp is out to prove he can be an Air Raid threat," 26 Aug. 2019 When Ruvido didn’t appear in court on Monday, more than a dozen officers armed with a battering ram, rifles and shields broke down Ruvido’s door in suburban Carmel Valley, according to the station. — Tim Stelloh, NBC News, "San Diego police sergeant accused of sex crime found dead after failing to show for court," 6 Aug. 2019 Mike Pollak grew up on football fields as a human battering ram. — Richard Obert, azcentral, "Retired NFL player Mike Pollak teaches high school players to reduce football head trauma," 9 July 2019 One group used a makeshift battering-ram, fashioned from a trolley, to break a large glass door on the outside of the building. — The Economist, "Protesters expose a fractured Hong Kong, but China’s grip only tightens," 5 July 2019 Karr gave the Bears a 16-14 lead late in the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown reception from Bronko Nagurski on a trick play — a jump pass after the 235-pound battering ram of a fullback rushed toward the line. — Will Larkin, chicagotribune.com, "Ranking the 100 best Bears players ever: No. 91, Bill Karr," 7 June 2019 On the outside, there are revolving license plates, front and rear battering rams, a bullet shield aft of the rear window that can be raied, and both an oil-slick system and a smokescreen system capable of shooting out of the taillights. — Daniel Golson, Car and Driver, "Check Out the Aston Martin DB5 Continuation's Working James Bond Gadgets," 14 May 2019 In Knoxville, Tennessee, armed black men organized themselves to successfully repel hundreds of white rioters who had already destroyed the county jail with a battering ram and dynamite. — Ursula Wolfe-rocca, Teen Vogue, "The Red Summer of 1919, Explained," 8 Apr. 2019 As trade negotiations with China resume this week, the Trump administration is racing to strike a deal that will result in long-term reforms—and prove that tariffs are an effective battering ram to open markets around the world. — Jacob M. Schlesinger, WSJ, "As China Trade Talks Resume, Trump Pushes an Ambitious Agenda," 18 Feb. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'battering.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for battering
battering
noun
English Language Learners Definition of battering
: an attack in which someone is badly injured by being hit many times
See the full definition for battering in the English Language Learners Dictionary