Synonyms of hurl

hurl

verb

ˈhər(-ə)l 

1

as in to vomit

to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth

that meal was so gross I thought I was going to hurl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vomit
• heave
• puke
• retch
• barf
• eject
• spew
• throw up
• gag
• upchuck
• spit up
• disgorge
• regurgitate
• lose one's lunch
• toss one's cookies
• expel
• nauseate

2

as in to scurry

to proceed or move quickly

a fighter jet hurled through the sky

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scurry
• fly
• rush
• hurry
• race
• travel
• drive
• speed
• jump
• trot
• chase
• run
• blow
• zip
• scoot
• dart
• rip
• scuttle
• tear
• blast
• buzz
• shoot
• whirl
• dash
• hurtle
• step
• bolt
• ram
• rocket
• pelt
• careen
• zoom
• jog
• hie
• hasten
• breeze
• rustle
• bowl
• jet
• whisk
• course
• blaze
• crack (on)
• motor
• barrel
• hustle
• nip
• bundle
• beat it
• career
• bomb
• belt
• hare
• hump
• get a move on
• step on it
• gallop
• cannonball
• highball
• make tracks
• flit
• scamper
• bustle
• shake a leg
• hotfoot (it)
• accelerate
• streak
• sprint
• overtake
• outrun
• scud
• whiz
• whizz
• stampede
• beetle
• step out
• scuffle
• catch up
• outstrip
• quicken
• outpace
• arrow
• beeline
• fast-forward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crawl
• drag
• creep
• poke
• linger
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• loiter
• dawdle
• lag
• tarry
• saunter
• stroll
• amble
• shuffle
• lumber
• plod
• decelerate
• slow (down or up)
• dally
• dillydally

3

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

hurled snowballs at each other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throw
• toss
• fling
• sling
• fire
• launch
• heave
• cast
• chuck
• catapult
• lob
• let fly
• hurtle
• pitch
• dart
• pelt
• flip
• dash
• bowl
• peg
• gun
• roll
• propel
• thrust
• loft
• pass
• eject
• shoot
• precipitate
• hook
• rifle
• impel
• project
• buck

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hurl distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hurl are cast, fling, pitch, sling, throw, and toss. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

When could cast be used to replace hurl?

While in some cases nearly identical to hurl, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for hurl?

The words fling and hurl are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When can pitch be used instead of hurl?

The meanings of pitch and hurl largely overlap; however, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When is it sensible to use sling instead of hurl?

Although the words sling and hurl have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

In what contexts can throw take the place of hurl?

While the synonyms throw and hurl are close in meaning, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

Where would toss be a reasonable alternative to hurl?

The synonyms toss and hurl are sometimes interchangeable, but toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hurl

Stories include a brick thrown through a home's window, slurs hurled at a public pool, middle fingers extended out of car windows, and an overall cold shoulder from neighbors. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025

Across the Southeast Asian archipelago, demonstrators have torched government buildings, riot police have hurled tear gas and fired water cannons at protesters in city streets, and some people have looted politicians’ houses and burned vehicles. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 1 Sep. 2025

Police used water canons and fired rounds of tear gas to push back the demonstrators, who hurled bottles, rocks and flares at them. —CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025

In one instance, a White man allegedly hurled racial slurs before shooting three Black men — later identified as survivors simply trying to get by. —Avalon Hester, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025