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

Whisk with ¾ cup whole milk and use in any sweet recipe that doesn’t require whipping.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
At the landing zone, with bullets whipping and cracking around them, Capers—barely clinging to consciousness—refused to board the helicopter until every last man, and his dog’s body, was aboard.

— Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Rather than hiding from the toughest challenges, Hill confronted them head-on despite knowingly taking on some short-term pain and cost.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
With that $140, York bought himself a lifetime of punchlines at his expense and, presumably, years of hiding from the spotlight.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

Beijing has moved to insulate itself economically, slashing crude imports nearly 50% since the war started, according to The Wall Street Journal, and bolstering domestic energy.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 23 Aug. 2026
But there’s no sign Washington is serious about slashing the budget or raising taxes.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of slashing

Verb

Vinicius Jr started each of Brazil’s five matches at the World Cup and played a starring role in the group stage, lashing in an excellent goal against Morocco, scoring and assisting against Haiti, and adding a brace against Scotland.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Lala weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Sunday after lashing the state without making landfall.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

Within a few minutes, Hutchinson has his mobile out, happily flicking through the screensavers.

— Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
His violent men — Scott’s sinister dad and Melton’s sad one — light cigarettes by flicking matches on their ears and teeth.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of flicking

Verb

Top McCain-Palin aides later acknowledged that backlash to the Couric interview, as well as Palin's flailing performance in other sit-downs, influenced the campaign's trajectory.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Benzina's spot kick was awarded after a VAR check penalized Algeria’s Lana Smits for catching Sakina Ouzraoui in the face with a flailing arm.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of flailing

Verb

So, that is one gig at a completely unnecessary addition to the sports calendar, created by corporate interests for the sole intention of flogging products to people who do not really like sport… and another at the Enhanced Games.

— Matt Slater, New York Times, 23 May 2026
In an even more meta moment, Amazon interrupted its own Upfront with actual ads with Summer House star Paige DeSorbo flogging certain items to an increasingly frustrated audience.

— Peter White, Deadline, 11 May 2026

Definition of flogging

Verb

Lionel Messi was fined by MLS for lightly slapping Union attacker Quinn Sullivan.

— Matt Piper, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Universities are not just slapping corporate logos on uniforms and facilities but building entertainment districts that can be lucrative far beyond game days.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of slapping

Browse Nearby Words

flagellates

flagellating

flagged

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“Flagellating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagellating. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of flagellating

verb

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