HURL Synonyms: 147 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hurl' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hurl are cast , fling , pitch , sling , throw , and toss . While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight. // hurled himself at the intruder

Q: When could 'cast' be used to replace 'hurl'?

While in some cases nearly identical to hurl , cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering. // cast it to the winds

Q: When would 'fling' be a good substitute for 'hurl'?

The words fling and hurl are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fling stresses a violent throwing. // flung the ring back in his face

Q: When can 'pitch' be used instead of 'hurl'?

The meanings of pitch and hurl largely overlap; however, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target. // pitch horseshoes

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sling' instead of 'hurl'?

Although the words sling and hurl have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim. // slung the bag over his shoulder

Q: In what contexts can 'throw' take the place of 'hurl'?

While the synonyms throw and hurl are close in meaning, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm. // can throw a fastball and a curve

Q: Where would 'toss' be a reasonable alternative to 'hurl'?

The synonyms toss and hurl are sometimes interchangeable, but toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion. // tossed the coat on the bed

hurl

verb

ˈhər(-ə)l

Definition of hurl

as in to vomit

to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth that meal was so gross I thought I was going to hurl

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to scurry

to proceed or move quickly a fighter jet hurled through the sky

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm hurled snowballs at each other

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hurl distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hurl are cast, fling, pitch, sling, throw, and toss. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

When could cast be used to replace hurl?

While in some cases nearly identical to hurl, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for hurl?

The words fling and hurl are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When can pitch be used instead of hurl?

The meanings of pitch and hurl largely overlap; however, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When is it sensible to use sling instead of hurl?

Although the words sling and hurl have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

In what contexts can throw take the place of hurl?

While the synonyms throw and hurl are close in meaning, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

Where would toss be a reasonable alternative to hurl?

The synonyms toss and hurl are sometimes interchangeable, but toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

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 hurl Scientists are curious about the sun’s inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Ryan released the child, after which he was handcuffed and is accused of hurling insults at the responding police officer, according to the police report. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 Scientists are curious about the sun's inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth. — CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 After hurling six scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over the Cardinals, Weathers expressed a willingness to pitch in relief. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurl

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurl

Verb

When his parents brought him to an emergency room, his symptoms were vomiting, fatigue, lethargy, and weakness.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026
Allegedly, so many cinema-goers vomited and fainted during the initial screenings of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) that theatre staff had to hand out smelling salts.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of vomit

Verb

Vaquer took out Rodriguez and Perez in the process before the trio scurried away.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
While on camera in Los Angeles' Sherman Oaks neighborhood during a live broadcast, a cockroach scurried across Menitoff's blouse and chest before flying away.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Definition of scurry

Verb

Back on the job the morning after the alert was lifted, Isidro threw a rope over an avocado tree about 20 feet (6 meters) high and climbed up.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
The quarterback who has thrown Allen the most passes during camp practices — Patrick Mahomes — spent his time Saturday standing on the sideline.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of throw

Verb

So a new grant, under the early-stage NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, aims to create small, flying vehicles that could explore those caves.

— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
When not searching for glass floats, enjoy other pastimes like tide pooling, beachcombing, and kite flying (home to two kite festivals, Lincoln City calls itself the Kite Capital of the World).

— Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of fly

Verb

The slab was too heavy to toss aside, and Osorio was worried there could be more people trapped underneath.

— Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Taylor Walls homered from both sides of the plate for the second time in his career, Nick Martinez tossed a complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth straight game, 12-4 over the Athletics on Tuesday night.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of toss

Verb

Last year in January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
However, even on longer drives with the second and third units, the Bills generally veered toward keeping a pass-rushing pair in the game for six-plus snaps at a time.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of rush

Verb

The sudden loss of mass means the strength of the primary star’s gravity drops suddenly, causing the secondary companion to get flung out into space at dizzying speeds.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
In that are shades of Woodstock 1994, where Green Day and the crowd flung mud at each other, and Dirnt wound up getting his front teeth knocked out by a security guard who mistook him for a fan.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of fling

Verb

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was on vacation when the mission began and hurried back to Washington as troops mobilized.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
That’s how Drake Maye ended his latest two-minute drill at Patriots training camp Monday, a meandering march that began around midfield and ended with Maye hurrying the offense to the 3-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurry

Browse Nearby Words

hurdling

hurl

hurled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurl. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hurl

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hurl

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

divulge

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes