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

In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.

— Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
By far, the easiest way to decongest my pores is whipping out one of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and giving my T-zone a very proper run-through.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

President Barack Obama had gathered his advisors to assess intelligence that indicated Osama Bin Laden was hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

— Keren Yarhi-Milo, Time, 8 Nov. 2026
San Diego professes pride in high graduation rates, but this is a chimera hiding the sad truth of how far our educational leaders will go to look good.

— U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

British anti-immigration activist Daniel Thomas pleaded guilty to slashing an inflatable migrant boat in the English Channel while a French rescue worker was aboard.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
Public schools would seem an odd fit for private equity, which is typically premised on a strategy of slashing costs, trimming head count, and finding the right moment to sell up.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 Nov. 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

During winter, both kinglet species flit among tree branches, frequently hovering and energetically flicking their wings to startle insects into movement.

— Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
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

Definition of flicking

Verb

Akio Kon | Bloomberg | Getty Images As Intel comes off its steepest stock drop since the 1970s due to a worsening outlook for the PC market, the chipmaker is facing intensifying pressure to get its flailing foundry business off the ground.

— Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
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

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

The loose straps on my backpack were snapping and slapping like whips.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Surveillance camera footage of the altercation shows one of the men slapping the tourist before the other suspect punches the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 9 Nov. 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of flagellating

verb

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