thrash

play

verb \ˈthrash\

Definition of thrash

transitive verb
1a : to beat soundly with or as if with a stick or whip : flogb : to defeat decisively or severely thrashed the visiting team
2 : to swing, beat, or strike in the manner of a rapidly moving flail thrashing his arms
3a : to go over again and again thrash the matter over inconclusivelyb : to hammer out : forge thrash out a plan
4 : to separate the seeds of from the husks and straw by beating : thresh 1
intransitive verb
1 : to move or stir about violently : toss about thrash in bed with a fever
2 : to deal blows or strokes like one using a flail or whip
3 : thresh 1

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Examples of thrash in a Sentence

He thrashed me with his belt.
The team thrashed them last week.
Something was thrashing wildly in the water.
She thrashed around in her sleep.

Origin and Etymology of thrash

alteration of thresh

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First Known Use: 1568

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of thrash

swing, wave, flourish, brandish, thrash mean to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down. swing implies regular or uniform movement. swing the rope back and forth wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion. waving the flag flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement. flourished the winning lottery ticket brandish implies threatening or menacing motion. brandishing a knife thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement. an infant thrashing his arms about