Thesaurus results for HORSEWHIPPING

horsewhipping

verb

present participle of horsewhip

as in whipping

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible the pirate captain threatened to horsewhip any of his crew who questioned his orders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horsewhipping

Verb

Battered cars with numbers sprayed on their sides are whipping around the dirt track of the Lebanon Valley Speedway, loose fenders flopping like overgrown bangs in the swirling dust.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
Iguanas usually go viral for other reasons Iguanas are usually quick-moving and run away from their would-be captors with their long tails whipping behind them.

— Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Risk intelligence gives marketplaces visibility into emerging threats as well as those hiding in plain sight.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
In videos posted to his Instagram account, Gallegos can be seen hiding underneath a table as plumes of dust burst in the air and parts of the ceiling crashed into the ground.

— Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

One of those attacks was a bear slashing a man’s chest outside his home in North Canaan.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Senate Republicans have expressed wariness in recent days about the prospect of slashing those standards, which advocates say help keep kids safe and healthy.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of slashing

Verb

The president has responded to the MAGA criticism by lashing out repeatedly at dissenters, prompting Greene – once a top Trump supporter – not to run for reelection and Massie to lose his primary.

— Zac Anderson, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Koivun launched himself into the lead at TPC Twin Cities by lashing a 305-yard approach shot to 12 feet on the par-5 12th hole.

— Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

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, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026

Definition of flagellating

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

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.

Browse Nearby Words

horsewhipped

horsewhipping

horsewhips

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Horsewhipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horsewhipping. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of horsewhipping

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on horsewhipping

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes