It's not "playing word games" to use a word consistent with its everyday meaning. You're the only one using everyday words and telling us that you have your own definition of the words based on how you used the words growing up.
According to your logic, "senseless" does not mean without senses.
You're just focusing on the word senseless. It's a phrase... "beat senseless".
The first definition of "beat" is
to hit (someone) repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury
War Machine's gf was hit repeatedly and "beat senseless".
Ray Rice's fiancee was knocked out.
It's really not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be, lol. I will continue using "beat senseless" to refer to those that are repeatedly hit and beaten much more than a single knockout punch. You can take that however you want.