1
as in whipped
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
students at the private school were once routinely birched for violating the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birched
Verb
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Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026 -
Many in the room whipped out their cameras to start filming, and made the rounds to glean and share details.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When a boy had licked her neck at a party during the first week of college, a stranger!—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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There was one girl who licked doorknobs.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lashed back at Leavitt.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
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Leo has not lashed out, or gotten defensive, or allowed himself to be pulled down into the gutter.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Energy prices have skyrocketed, economic growth forecasts have been slashed, food insecurity is back in the spotlight, and access to critical chemicals, aluminum and other products has been curtailed.—
Wendy Cutler,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
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The International Monetary Fund has slashed its economic growth forecasts for these countries and expects the economies of Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait to contract this year.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of just hitting the ground, the hail pounded the museum's collection of one‑of‑a‑kind planes and helicopters.—
Bo Evans,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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Instead, whole grains and foods are dissembled into molecules which, with the help of artificial colorings, flavorings and gluelike emulsifiers, are heated, pounded, shaped or extruded into any food a manufacturer can dream up.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The media flagged and flogged it for AI incompetence.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
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To be publicly flogged for how much Pa permitted us to do — that felt grossly unfair.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The weekend events are designed to showcase the street's new makeover and draw customers back to businesses that were battered by years of construction, steering away clientele.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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Believing sanctions relief was not a realistic outcome after the agreement’s failure, Iran – though battered by losing access to the global financial system – has found increasingly creative workarounds.—
Charmaine N. Willis,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Last season, Lyon won the first leg at Emirates Stadium but was thrashed 4-1 in the second match en route to Arsenal winning the title for the second time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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The video showed that during the second time, the dog latched onto Evans’ left forearm and violently thrashed as Evans cried out in pain.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Birched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birched. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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