Thesaurus results for FLAGELLATING

flagellating

verb

present participle of flagellate

as in whipping

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

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of flagellating Some go further, flagellating themselves or using a sword to strike their forehead to draw blood. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 His only way of finding any kind of life for himself is to embrace evil, to stop running away from it, to try to stop morally flagellating himself. — Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagellating

Verb

Now imagine whipping your phone out after work, telling the world about it, and landing a brand deal worth $10K or more.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Now imagine the same hot and dry conditions, but with the Santa Anas whipping at 40 miles an hour.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Some senators fled while others braced themselves inside the Senate chamber as Officer Eugene Goodman tried to reason with the mob, and Senate staffers barricaded themselves in offices, hiding.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Joseph had spent most of the war hiding in the forest with the Bielski partisan force, a Jewish resistance group.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

In 2023, the company imposed a $10 price hike in high-demand areas, bringing the fee to $120 per month, while slashing costs in areas with ample capacity.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
The government is also negotiating next year's budget with parliament, with an aim of slashing spending to bring down the country's deficit.

— Sean Conlon,Justina Lee,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of slashing

Verb

Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers, the analysis found.

— Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.

— Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

Instamall plans to keep adding brands, but it is already hooked into the inventory systems of its existing partners, so expanding the service to new cities could be as easy as flicking a switch.

— Evan Clark, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Coming for a variety of longtime critics of the merger, opposition rose and suspicion about the settlement served to pour gasoline on an already flicking fire.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of flicking

Verb

All of that would be bad enough if the Mamdani administration at least had a plan for turning around our flailing public school system.

— Ciara Jackson, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
Even with its offense flailing, the Trojans somehow cobbled together a touchdown drive in the second quarter, thanks to three Wisconsin penalties, all of which handed them first downs.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of flailing

Verb

The Taliban bans filming in public areas where flogging as well as stoning takes place, but MA says that individuals who oppose the practice have been discretely filming these events, then posting the video.

— Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026
Rubin, who has built a business flogging sports merchandising and collectibles, is renowned for his annual White Party in the exclusive Hamptons, near New York City.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of flogging

Verb

Jamie Love is swaying, slapping a hand against her thigh to keep time, and mouthing along to the music that plays from a set of portable speakers.

— Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Teens say a traffic altercation with former Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant escalated in Southlake, where video shows Bryant slapping a phone out of a teen's hand.

— Erin Jones, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of slapping

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flagellates

flagellating

flagged

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“Flagellating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagellating. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flagellating

verb

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