1
as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a shattering belt to the rock with a hammer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in sashes
a strip of flexible material (as leather) worn around the waist
a drugstore cowboy who loves his fancily decorated belt
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in clips
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
belted the baseball out of the park
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wraps
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt
belted the little boy's pants tightly so they would stay up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pounds
to strike repeatedly
belted the punching bag relentlessly
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in races
to proceed or move quickly
the boy went belting along on his skateboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 belts
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
From anti-theft bags and money belts to AirTags and noise-cancelling headphones, here are all of the travel must-haves on my packing list for my mom.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
The rest of us have something like one theater group (now defunct; members scattered) and one literary journal (still going, just with different names on the masthead) under our belts.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
There are nuances, just like the two blue belts in the first movie.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Kid-sized yukata, obi belts and slippers are provided, which are not only practical but are likely to make for great family photos.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
However, the issue even extends to older generations who have decades of experience under their belts.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Trends spanned bold cow print jeans to cowboy hats and studded leather disc belts that bridged western and boho trends.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
All that persists where the disks once were are the surviving planets and moons, plus any asteroids and icy objects, often found in belts and clouds, that remain.
—Big Think, 17 Apr. 2026
Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Vanessa Orozco is a vocal powerhouse as Reina, who belts out ballad after ballad and credibly portrays her character’s desperation and determination.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
But two decades on, the sequel (in theaters May 1) arrives in an extremely different landscape, which has forced media companies to tighten their belts as page views plummet and AI surges.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
From anti-theft bags and money belts to AirTags and noise-cancelling headphones, here are all of the travel must-haves on my packing list for my mom.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
The rest of us have something like one theater group (now defunct; members scattered) and one literary journal (still going, just with different names on the masthead) under our belts.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
There are nuances, just like the two blue belts in the first movie.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Kid-sized yukata, obi belts and slippers are provided, which are not only practical but are likely to make for great family photos.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
However, the issue even extends to older generations who have decades of experience under their belts.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Trends spanned bold cow print jeans to cowboy hats and studded leather disc belts that bridged western and boho trends.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
All that persists where the disks once were are the surviving planets and moons, plus any asteroids and icy objects, often found in belts and clouds, that remain.
—Big Think, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
In the defining scene of Sinners, Sammie belts the tune at a juke joint as a brief history of Black music unfurls around him.
—Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Vanessa Orozco is a vocal powerhouse as Reina, who belts out ballad after ballad and credibly portrays her character’s desperation and determination.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belts
Verb
-
The catcher receives the signal, checks his wrist band, then punches the command into his PitchCom.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Aeration can be done with a core aerator that punches shallow holes in the surface, or with a shovel or a rototiller that turns the soil more deeply.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Create a sense of privacy in a home that is exposed to the street with a high privacy wall that wraps from the front to the sides and back of your property.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The exterior zipper stylishly wraps around the sides, opening wide for easy access to your phone and everyday essentials.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Its untapped reserves are being wasted as the world races toward an era of abundant renewable energy.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The film unfolds in Kathmandu, where a mother races to shield her nine-year-old daughter from a sudden and troubling change – a journey that forces both characters to reckon with trauma and with a legal system ill-equipped to deliver justice.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Joe Rodon clips a pass over the top of the Brentford defence for Calvert-Lewin to contest.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
As of now, the areas with the greatest threat to see any significant accumulation would be the farthest southeastern parts of our region before the storm zips off to the east.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The nonprofit holds a 26% stake, plus warrants if OpenAI hits certain valuation targets.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Searchlight is in development on Lottery, a Permut Presentations drama about a young man with Down syndrome who, after winning the lottery, flees his estranged mother and hits the road with a charming new friend who has ulterior motives of her own.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belts. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
