pistol-whip

verb

pis·​tol-whip ˈpi-stᵊl-ˌ(h)wip How to pronounce pistol-whip (audio)
pistol-whipped; pistol-whipping; pistol-whips
Synonyms of pistol-whipnext

transitive verb

: to beat with a pistol

Examples of pistol-whip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
During the trial, the victim testified that Newton pointed a gun at the victim’s head and threatened her with it instead of attempting to pistol-whip her. City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 The assault ended when Davis drew a firearm and pistol-whipped the teen. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026 Police said the victim was assaulted and pistol-whipped while delivering a package on Parkview Avenue. Mamie Bah, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026 What came next, according to police reports, was an hourlong ordeal in which the robber, after pushing his way into the home, bound the victim with duct tape, pistol-whipped and repeatedly threatened to kill him while demanding access to his phone and laptop. Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pistol-whip

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pistol-whip was circa 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pistol-whip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol-whip. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

pistol-whip

verb
: to beat with a pistol

More from Merriam-Webster on pistol-whip

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster