flog

verb

ˈfläg 

flogged; flogging

transitive verb

1

a

: to beat with or as if with a rod or whip

The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny.

b

: to criticize harshly

He was flogged in the press for failing to take action.

2

: to force or urge into action : drive

3

a

chiefly British : to sell (something, such as stolen goods) illegally

… flogged their employers' petrol to ordinary motorists …

—Economist

b

: sell sense 7

… traveled by horse, flogging encyclopedias …

—Robert Darnton

flogging wares at the local discount outlet

—Ronald Henkoff

c

: to promote aggressively : plug

Flying around the world flogging your movies …

—Peter Bogdanovich

4

British : steal sense 1

intransitive verb

1

: flap, flutter

sails flogging

2

British : to move along with difficulty : slog

flogger noun

Synonyms of flog

• whip
• hide
• slash
• slap
• lash
• spank
• flick
• flagellate
• hit

Examples of flog in a Sentence

The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny.

a graphic depiction of a sailor being flogged by the captain for disobeying orders

Recent Examples on the Web

The Taliban bans filming in public areas where flogging as well as stoning takes place, but MA says that individuals who oppose the practice have been discretely filming these events, then posting the video. — Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026

Rubin, who has built a business flogging sports merchandising and collectibles, is renowned for his annual White Party in the exclusive Hamptons, near New York City. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

One of her biggest gripes is how often the beauty industry flogs acidic products to control oil production when women are experiencing hormonal imbalance. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

The 1986 theatrical movie boldly killed off many of the franchise's most iconic characters in a bid to flog more toys. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps modification of Latin flagellare to whip — more at flagellate

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing flog

• flog a dead horse

Rhymes for flog

• blog
• bog
• clog
• cog
• dog
• fog
• frog
• grog
• hog
• jog
• log
• og

Kids Definition

flog

verb

ˈfläg 

flogged; flogging

: to beat severely with or as if with a rod or whip

flogger noun