whack

1 of 2

verb

whacked; whacking; whacks
Synonyms of whacknext

transitive verb

1
a
: to strike with a smart or resounding blow
whack the ball
b
: to cut with or as if with a whack : chop
2
chiefly British : to get the better of : defeat
3
slang : murder, kill

intransitive verb

: to strike a smart or resounding blow
whacker noun

whack

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a smart or resounding blow
also : the sound of or as if of such a blow
b
: a critical attack
2
3
4
a
: an opportunity or attempt to do something
take a whack at it
b
: a single action or occasion
borrowed $50 all at one whack

see also out of whack

Examples of whack in a Sentence

Verb She whacked the piñata with a stick. The old man lifted his cane and whacked the mugger on the head. They were whacking through the jungle with their machetes. He got whacked by mobsters. Noun The pile of books hit the floor with a whack. took a whack at solving the math problem
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.
Verb
As with many things, however, regulation began a whack-a-mole game that continues today, with financial firms searching for loopholes or creating new accounts, investment funds or securities that skirt regulation. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025 The reptile reacts to being picked up by flicking its meaty tail back and forth, whacking a few of the deputies. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Noun
And with the backing of local power brokers, enforcement becomes a game of whack-a-mole. Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2025 The song has so much force that, like a comet pulled from orbit, its gravitational pull throws a light farce out of whack. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whack

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably imitative of the sound of a blow

First Known Use

Verb

1719, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of whack was in 1719

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whack. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

whack

1 of 2 verb
ˈhwak How to pronounce whack (audio)
ˈwak
: to hit or cut with a hard noisy blow
whacked the ball into left field
whacker noun

whack

2 of 2 noun
1
: a hard noisy blow
also : its sound
2
: try entry 2, attempt
take a whack at it

More from Merriam-Webster on whack

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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