whale 1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wāl How to pronounce whale (audio)
Definition of whalenext
as in dinosaur
something that is unusually large and powerful a whale of a pickup truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whale

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 whale
Noun
Eventually, the whale breaches the surface and Jay nearly manages to break free by climbing out of its open mouth. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the natural beauty of the Golden State is offset by the graphic body horror of the whale’s innards, built on practical sets by production designer Ramsey Avery and lit by bioluminescence. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 The whale ultimately serves as a stand-in for Mitt and the all-consuming weight of his legacy and expectations on Jay. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 Featured Presentations Whalefall Men would rather be swallowed by a whale than go to therapy, according to this movie. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whale
  1. dinosaur
  2. hit
  3. hide
  4. lick
  5. giant
  6. punch
  7. whip
  8. pound
Noun
  • According to the researchers, the dinosaur suffered a broken rib during its lifetime.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While dinosaurs roamed the earth, giant monsters roamed the sea.
    — October 16, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Verb
  • Social media giant Meta was hit with a class action lawsuit in Australia on behalf of children and teenagers who allegedly suffered harm over the addictive design features and exposure to harmful content on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • For the past few years, Baba Stiltz has been hitting the open road with nothing but a guitar, a tape deck, and a few pedals.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • Working in quick, gentle strokes, Abrams used her brush and sprayer to peel away dirt hiding the floral details on Eliza’s grave before moving to the next.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The subsequent furor is about hiding it from the public and about a brazen plea to keep the Democratic Party and three of its candidates from advertising those facts.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Popo would lick her cone ever so gracefully, never dripping or messing up the lining of her magenta lipstick.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.
    — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of lick
Noun
  • No word on if there may be a deal for the duo to land over at the streaming giant as the company prepares for a few big theatrical releases ahead.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In response, the streaming giant has sought to diversify its content in recent years, expanding into live sports, documentaries and video games in order to compete for share of consumer attention.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of giant
Verb
  • The 25-year-old who was punched refused medical attention at the scene.
    — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The Rays punched their ticket to baseball’s biggest stage with a 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, taking the best-of-seven series four games to two.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of punch
Verb
  • Fire crews scrambled late Saturday as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.
    — Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fire crews scrambled late into the night as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of whip
Verb
  • When Louise would remember the show decades later, the audience was always so electric that the room exploded into stamping feet and pounding fists.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Ukraine briefly halted such attacks, but has since resumed them — while Russia never stopped pounding Ukraine’s energy plants and cities.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pound

Browse Nearby Words

whacks
whale
whaleboat
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Cite this Entry

“Whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whale. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whale

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