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

If the tonal whiplash doesn’t zap your spirit, the double-bummer of a relentlessly morbid penultimate episode and its impossibly bonkers finale has to leave you questioning whether Season 2 can get back on track. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026

The Twin Cities metro is in for some late-winter temperature whiplash this week. —Joseph Dames, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026

America's Next Top Model will give you whiplash. —Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026

Still, the transition to Thursday’s game felt like whiplash. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026

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)