whack

¹whack

verb \ˈhwak, ˈwak\

Definition of WHACK

transitive verb

1

a : to strike with a smart or resounding blow <whack the ball>

b : to cut with or as if with a whack : chop

2

chiefly British : to get the better of : defeat

3

slang : murder, kill

intransitive verb

: to strike a smart or resounding blow

— whack·er noun

Examples of WHACK

1. She whacked the piñata with a stick.
2. The old man lifted his cane and whacked the mugger on the head.
3. They were whacking through the jungle with their machetes.
4. He got whacked by mobsters.

Origin of WHACK

probably imitative of the sound of a blow

First Known Use: 1719

Related to WHACK

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, hit, whale, zap

Related Words

batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough; scuff; bunt, flick, stroke, tap; bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp; bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump [slang], fell, floor, knock down, level; rabbit-punch, sucker punch; cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip; bean, brain, conk, skull

Near Antonyms

animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive

Rhymes with WHACK

back, black, Braque, clack, claque, crack, flack, flak, hack, jack, knack, lac, lack, lakh, mac, Mac, pack, plaque, quack, rack, sac, sack, sacque, shack, slack, smack, snack, stack, tach, tack, thwack, track, Wac, wack, wrack, yak

²whack

noun

Definition of WHACK

1

a : a smart or resounding blow; also : the sound of or as if of such a blow

b : a critical attack

2

: portion, share

3

: condition, state

4

a : an opportunity or attempt to do something <take a whack at it>

b : a single action or occasion <borrowed $50 all at one whack>

— out of whack

1

: out of proper order or shape <threw his knee out of whack>

2

: not in accord <feeling out of whack with her contemporaries — S. E. Rubin>

Examples of WHACK

1. The pile of books hit the floor with a whack.
2. <took a whack at solving the math problem>

First Known Use of WHACK

1736

Related to WHACK

Synonyms

assay [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, attempt, whirl

Related Words

striving, struggle, throes, undertaking; trial and error