The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word TROUNCES
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
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O
U
N
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More clues leading to the result TROUNCES
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The straight part
We know that "Beats" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case beats = trounces.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TROUNCES mean?
TROUNCES noun- An act of trouncing: a severe beating, a thrashing; a thorough defeat.
- To beat severely; to thrash.
- To beat or overcome thoroughly, to defeat heavily; especially (games) to win against (someone) by a wide margin.
- To chastise or punish physically or verbally; to scold with abusive language.
- To punish by bringing a lawsuit against; to sue.
- A walk involving some difficulty or effort; a trek, a tramp, a trudge.
- A journey involving quick travel; also, one that is dangerous or laborious.
- To walk heavily or with some difficulty; to tramp, to trudge.
- To pass across or over; to traverse.
- To travel quickly over a long distance.
- An act of trouncing: a severe beating, a thrashing; a thorough defeat.
- To beat severely; to thrash.
- To beat or overcome thoroughly, to defeat heavily; especially (games) to win against (someone) by a wide margin.
- To chastise or punish physically or verbally; to scold with abusive language.
- To punish by bringing a lawsuit against; to sue.
- A walk involving some difficulty or effort; a trek, a tramp, a trudge.
- A journey involving quick travel; also, one that is dangerous or laborious.
- To walk heavily or with some difficulty; to tramp, to trudge.
- To pass across or over; to traverse.
- To travel quickly over a long distance.