Synonyms of whale

whale 1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wāl 

as in dinosaur

something that is unusually large and powerful

a whale of a pickup truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dinosaur
• giant
• monster
• elephant
• mammoth
• leviathan
• hulk
• Goliath
• titan
• mastodon
• blockbuster
• colossus
• behemoth
• jumbo
• dreadnought
• whopper
• heavyweight
• bulk
• giantess
• juggernaut
• amazon
• steamroller

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dwarf
• midget
• diminutive
• mite
• pygmy
• half-pint
• runt
• lightweight
• weakling
• wisp
• wimp
• peewee
• nonentity
• twerp
• whippersnapper

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

• hit
• punch
• smack
• slap
• bang
• knock
• slam
• bat
• strike
• clip
• pound
• clap
• whack
• swipe
• crack
• kick
• nail
• slug
• sock
• tag
• box
• thump
• bop
• hammer
• bob
• clock
• poke
• tap
• clout
• rap
• bash
• lick
• belt
• swat
• smite
• flick
• bust
• shove
• bludgeon
• stroke
• chop
• jab
• clobber
• push
• thwack
• zap
• paste
• bump
• wallop
• stab
• biff
• bonk
• slog
• pelt
• rough
• pepper
• maul
• buffet
• butt
• deck
• beat
• batter
• stamp
• pummel
• hang one on
• cuff
• bung
• knee
• mangle
• spear
• brain
• cream
• skull
• dump
• floor
• pommel
• lace
• slash
• bean
• lash
• fell
• bunt
• club
• knock down
• drub
• bowl (down or over)
• sledge
• cane
• whip
• lambaste
• sap
• cudgel
• conk
• scuff
• prod
• jostle
• flail
• level
• thrash
• rabbit-punch
• switch
• sucker punch
• flog
• sledgehammer

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

• hide
• whip
• slash
• leather
• flick
• tan
• bat
• flagellate
• scourge
• cut
• birch
• hit
• lash
• cowhide
• switch
• flail
• thrash
• slap
• punch
• rawhide
• lick
• knock
• bang
• maul
• pound
• spank
• horsewhip
• flog
• smack
• clip
• strap
• whack
• swipe
• pelt
• cane
• thump
• beat
• club
• box
• sock
• clap
• slug
• quirt
• swat
• cudgel
• paddle
• bop
• touch up
• rough
• blackjack
• clout
• buffet
• knout
• cuff
• lam
• crack
• bust
• hammer
• slate
• batter
• smite
• pummel
• bung
• work over
• belt
• bash
• lather
• clobber
• mangle
• bludgeon
• thwack
• paste
• lace
• wallop
• fib
• pommel
• fustigate
• pistol-whip
• whup
• drub
• thresh
• baste
• whop
• slog
• belabor
• lambaste
• tromp

3

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly

mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lick
• pound
• pelt
• hide
• bat
• lash
• whip
• batter
• beat
• hit
• thump
• attack
• punch
• slap
• knock
• do
• assault
• paddle
• maul
• slam
• tan
• punch out
• smash
• club
• curry
• buffet
• spank
• raid
• birch
• chop
• slate
• hammer
• pummel
• work over
• storm
• belt
• lather
• thrash
• bludgeon
• bash
• smack
• box
• lace
• fib
• pommel
• wound
• rough (up)
• wallop
• switch
• whack
• bung up
• beat up on
• whup
• drub
• flog
• whop
• thresh
• swipe
• baste
• sock
• slog
• belabor
• lambaste
• mess (up)
• crack
• leather
• swat
• cudgel
• tromp
• clout
• strap
• rush
• descend (on or upon)
• lam
• cuff
• bust
• jump (on)
• wham
• flagellate
• scourge
• cane
• pounce (on or upon)
• lay on
• paste
• clobber
• thwack
• beset
• gore
• whomp
• blackjack
• rawhide
• lacerate
• assail
• cowhide
• horsewhip
• mangle
• maim
• mutilate
• fustigate
• pistol-whip

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of whale

Noun

In 1985, a whale known as Humphrey spent several weeks in the Rio Vista area before eventually returning through San Francisco Bay to the ocean. — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

The scientists also found evidence of specialized, super-sized neurons involved in social cognition only found in large-brain mammals like elephants, whales, and primates, including humans. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026

But larger animals, such as whales, mature slowly and reproduce later. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Cassidy Teufel, deputy director at the coastal commission, said during a review of the project that seaweed farms use taut, rigid lines, not the loose fishing lines that are a leading cause of whale entanglements. — Amy Taxin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026