hurtle

verb

ˈhər-tᵊl How to pronounce hurtle (audio)
Definition of hurtlenext
1
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly the probe hurtled through space to its destination: Jupiter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm competitors taking turns hurtling their javelins down the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 hurtle Now, a deal that was hurtling through the regulatory process at a remarkable pace, going from proposal to the verge of completion in about five months, has now entered into a period of stasis. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 July 2026 Many people seemed to feel that the world was hurtling ahead, and that the early days of the pandemic were both very far away and very, very close. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 There’s currently a 357-foot (109-m)-long structure – the ISS – hurtling at 17,500 mph (28,164 km/h) around the Earth in the frigid-to-sweltering swinging vacuum of space, that scientists have called home for 25 years. — New Atlas, 18 July 2026 On the boulevard itself, parking spots were filling up as drivers hurtled down the busy roadway. — Hanna Kang, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurtle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtle
  1. scurry
  2. throw
  3. rush
  4. hurl
  5. speed
  6. toss
  7. hurry
  8. fling
Verb
  • Vaquer took out Rodriguez and Perez in the process before the trio scurried away.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • While on camera in Los Angeles' Sherman Oaks neighborhood during a live broadcast, a cockroach scurried across Menitoff's blouse and chest before flying away.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • Logan Webb yielded one run on four hits and a walk over eight innings for the Giants, throwing 100 pitches.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Higher gas prices threw Javier Casillas’ lower-income customers for a loop.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of throw
Verb
  • Some critics worry the country is rushing to deploy risky and unnecessary new technology at a time when wind, solar and battery power are increasingly affordable and reliable.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • And rather than rush to a decision during a pastoral transition, the church chose to set the conversation aside.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rush
Verb
  • Scientists are curious about the sun's inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • After hurling six scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over the Cardinals, Weathers expressed a willingness to pitch in relief.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurl
Verb
  • There’s enough footage from the prior films to get you up to speed quickly, and none of the individual story arcs matter nearly as much as the larger sense that each season of human life is worthy of its own naturalistic exploration.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Manage Stress — Some stress is inevitable, but being in chronic fight-or-flight can speed up brain aging and inflammation build up.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of speed
Verb
  • The slab was too heavy to toss aside, and Osorio was worried there could be more people trapped underneath.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor Walls homered from both sides of the plate for the second time in his career, Nick Martinez tossed a complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth straight game, 12-4 over the Athletics on Tuesday night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of toss
Verb
  • Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was on vacation when the mission began and hurried back to Washington as troops mobilized.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That’s how Drake Maye ended his latest two-minute drill at Patriots training camp Monday, a meandering march that began around midfield and ended with Maye hurrying the offense to the 3-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurry
Verb
  • The boundary between indoor and outdoor living is nearly erased as floor-to-ceiling glass windows and walls are flung open to redefine the term cross-breeze.
    — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • At least 15 Tigers groundskeepers joined a seventh-inning squirrel chase that spilled into right field, where the critter ran into Leody Taveras’ glove and was accidentally flung skyward.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of fling

Browse Nearby Words

hurting (for)
hurtle
hurtled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hurtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtle. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hurtle

Nglish: Translation of hurtle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All