whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: something resembling a blow from a whip

the whiplash of fear

—R. S. Banay

3

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.

Recent Examples on the Web

That greatness includes a whiplash-inducing rose scent and a musky eau de parfum that brings an unexpected accord to the mix. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

The fluctuations of emotions in the last couple of weeks have felt like whiplash. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025

The whiplash of the internet is endless — the world’s issues nestled between brain rot and TikTok dances, a dose of disinformation amid grim news and Russian bots. —Padma Balaji, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025

So how was Jake dealing with all the emotional whiplash of missing his child’s birth upon entering the game? —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whiplash

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash -ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip- 

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)