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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

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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

Examples of hurl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The shock wave had ripped out walls of neighboring structures, hurled cars and shaken houses almost a mile away. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024 Haphazardly hurling people and equipment at Ukrainian defenses west of Donetsk, the Russian military is like a bloodied boxer whose strength is fading, but who refuses to tap out. David Axe, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 In late 2022, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland entered London’s National Gallery and hurled tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024 Early one morning in February 2023, before the sun rose over Phoenix, Ravi Coutinho went on a walk and, for a brief moment, thought about hurling his body in front of a moving bus. Max Blau, NPR, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hurl 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hurl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near hurl

Cite this Entry

“Hurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurl. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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