as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
the pirate captain threatened to horsewhip any of his crew who questioned his orders
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horsewhip
The Speccie’s star columnist is the rudest man in Christendom, the Godzilla of contumely, an all-time non-sufferer of fools who horsewhips his targets the way Hunter S. Thompson and Christopher Hitchens once did.
—
Kyle Smith, National Review, 23 Apr. 2020
In reality, Watson wasn’t a bar fighter or famous for horsewhipping cowboys.
—Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian, 12 Mar. 2018
Kyle Smith, National Review, 23 Apr. 2020
In reality, Watson wasn’t a bar fighter or famous for horsewhipping cowboys.
—Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian, 12 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horsewhip
Verb
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They are not whipped again, but after all of that research, I sure am beat.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Sedaris were sitting front row, with Parker whipping out her phone to film Reese.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There’s no attempt to hide the staging, although the accompanying musicians are mostly unseen.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In December 1978, Gacy confessed to kidnapping, raping and murdering dozens of boys and men, some as young as 14 years old, and hiding many of their bodies in a crawl space under the house.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Major job cuts have been expected even before the Skydance Media-Paramount Global deal closed, as part of Ellison and his team’s goal of slashing upwards of $2 billion in costs.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
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In August, the city laid off 169 workers and slashed hundreds of vacant positions to make up for part of that shortfall.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mirrors have a patina, coffee tables are leathered and trunk-like.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
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In September, Polène unveiled a collaboration with Chinese glass artist Jinya Zhao, which took the shape of a geometric sculpture made of blown glass and leather off-cuts and created in two watercolor gradients of lavender and amber.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a post-draft interview on the Bills’ flagship radio station WGR 550-AM, Beane lashed out at the hosts for criticizing his lack of attention to wide receiver throughout the offseason.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Andy lashed the feet tightly and then grabbed the loose end of the rope.—
Bob Cary,
Outdoor Life,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horsewhip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horsewhip. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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