as in whips
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
some medieval monks believed it was necessary to flagellate themselves in order to keep their desires in check
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagellates
Verb
-
The vessel bends, blocks, and whips the wind into complex micro-currents before the air ever hits the sails.
-
In the fourth minute, Meschack Elia whips a ball across the box to Bakambu, eight yards from goal.
Verb
-
The script hides serious moral and ethical conversations about fame, political violence, and powerful institutions amongst jokes about hashbrowns.
-
Rehka literally hides under a table to avoid him.
Verb
-
This comes as the company reportedly slashes product prices and prepares for a potential IPO, amid accusations from Florida's AG regarding unsafe product releases.
-
The process cuts down air pollution and slashes industrial water consumption.
Verb
-
She is laid out on a gurney, breathing in and out as the nurse flicks the needle, shooting oxytocin, prostaglandins into her blood-stream.
-
A little jump follows and the heel of your front foot flicks the ball into the air.
Verb
-
Killer whales off New England The aquarium says killer whale sightings are uncommon in New England waters.
Verb
-
The study points to a protein called HDAC3, which switches certain genes on and off to keep the lining sturdy.
-
When using a device like an iPhone, a child switches tasks every 65 seconds on average, training their brains to expect constant novelty.
Verb
-
Some fans said the actor instead resembled an early-PlayStation-era cutscene character who robotically flails his limbs upon impact.
-
As Frances ascends in the art world, Avery flails financially and emotionally — and the nationwide Adderall shortage isn’t helping.
Verb
-
Harris also shows us the burn scars that ripple up Racine’s arm and across Anaia’s face, textured skin that makes strangers blanch, to which Racine lashes out defensively.
-
Continue reading … LATE-NIGHT LAMENT — Colbert lashes out at CBS, says cancellation ‘reinforced a narrative’ of ‘knee bending’ to Trump.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Flagellates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagellates. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
