bat·ter·ing
ˈba-tə-riŋ
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
battering
2 of 2present participle of batter entry 1, batter entry 3, batter entry 5
Cite this Entry
“Battering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battering. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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