1
as in whipping
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 licking
to strike repeatedly
always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birching
Verb
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By whipping or rapidly spinning fresh citrus juice, bartenders introduce air into the liquid, creating a thicker texture without adding additional ingredients.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026 -
Scheffler began the final day eight shots behind and was 7 under through seven holes before the wind began whipping.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Spit Heathcliff spends a lot of time straight-up licking Cathy’s face in this movie.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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Even in the trailer, scenes of slapping dough, Robbie and Elordi kissing in the rain and Elordi licking a wall were telltale signs that this would be a heightened version of the actual romance depicted in the book.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For more wicker patio set deals hiding in plain sight, check out our favorites below from Walmart, West Elm, and beyond—and get ready for many afternoons spent enjoying your new outdoor oasis.—
Melanie Fincher,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
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Typically police will train on how to work their way through a building where a shooter could be hiding behind various doors or in rooms or stairways.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After being outplayed by the home side for nearly all of the first half, Leeds took only four minutes of the second period to take the lead, Lukas Nmecha lashing home brilliantly from the edge of the penalty area.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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The carnivorous mammal's teeth-baring image suggests a wilderness pushed to the margins and lashing out.—
Felicia Feaster,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On the northern end of California’s Central Coast, the region’s rolling hills and sunny beaches give way to misty bays and cypress groves, pounding turquoise surf and steep, plunging cliffs.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
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The cast of the heart-pounding story also features Stephen Tobolowsky, Frances Bay, and Peter Friedman.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the winter and early spring, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was slashing the federal workforce, in part, by offering buyouts to career officials.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
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New York — Advances in AI are unlikely to push down interest rates in the short term, a key Federal Reserve official said Tuesday — a stark contrast to Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh’s plan for slashing borrowing costs.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Examples include a husband having the legal right to restrict his wife’s travel and employment, unequal divorce rights and punishment for appearing in public without a hijab ranging from fines to prison time to flogging.—
Ellie Austin,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
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Others have called out the boring marketing campaign based around flogging variants in order for Swift to finally beat the record for the biggest opening sales week for a female artist in history (currently held by Adele, which she is likely projected to break).—
Bianca Davino,
Refinery29,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But battering snow, whiteout conditions and the risk of another avalanche forced crews to take a slow and careful approach.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The battering weather that brought hard rain, thunder and lightning to the Bay Area and near white-out conditions and a deadly avalanche in the Sierra Nevada eased on Wednesday.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Birching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birching. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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