golpear

Senses

1. 1.

   to strike, to hit

   to deliver a blow or impact to someone or something

2. 2.

   to beat, to pound

   to hit repeatedly or forcefully

3. 3.

   to strike down, to deal a blow to

   to affect someone or something adversely (figurative)

Examples

• "O boxeador golpeou o adversário com força."

  The boxer struck his opponent forcefully.

• "As ondas golpeavam a costa durante a tempestade."

  The waves pounded the coast during the storm.

• "A crise econômica golpeou duramente as pequenas empresas."

  The economic crisis dealt a harsh blow to small businesses.

Usage

Formal or literary register; more common in writing than everyday speech. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, "bater" is more frequently used for physical striking. Often appears in news and literary contexts, especially in figurative uses like "golpear a economia" (to strike/impact the economy).