1
2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
back in those times it was acceptable for teachers to paddle misbehaving students
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 paddle
Even before the expedition reached land, Islanders had gone out to the ships, paddling canoes or reed bundles, or just swimming, unafraid and unarmed.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
When boat rentals stop for the winter, plan to take a walk around the basin instead of paddling on it for equally impressive views.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
If your arms are tired from paddling, give your legs a workout by exploring 10 miles of hiking trails.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Rent a kayak and paddle through shady tunnels, or grab a mountain bike and discover that Miami does, in fact, have elevation changes—sort of.
—Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paddle
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
When boat rentals stop for the winter, plan to take a walk around the basin instead of paddling on it for equally impressive views.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
If your arms are tired from paddling, give your legs a workout by exploring 10 miles of hiking trails.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Rent a kayak and paddle through shady tunnels, or grab a mountain bike and discover that Miami does, in fact, have elevation changes—sort of.
—Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddle
Verb
-
In addition to the standard seaside activities, parkgoers can kayak to secluded coves, clam for their dinner, fish, and surf.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
-
At 16, the Hoopa Valley tribal member was about to kayak more than 300 miles down the Klamath River from its headwaters in southern Oregon.—
The Editors,
Outside,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Smith rows for roughly 10 to 12 hours a day, mostly during daylight, and spends the rest of her time maintaining the boat, checking her position, preparing meals and resting.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Learn to row a traditional wooden boat known as a punt or go trout fishing in one of the island’s ponds.—
Carolyn Heller,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The president has lashed out at current Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the Fed's slow-and-steady approach to interest rate cuts over the last year.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Tony Khan’s History Of Online Controversies On New Year’s Eve in 2021, Tony Khan lashed out on Twitter at former AEW star Big Swole for her complaints about AEW’s lack of diversity.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Try canoeing the Colorado River, ATV riding on the Imperial Sand Dunes, or sample fresh produce because Yuma delights with plentiful agritourism, too.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
4 Jan. 2026
-
My childhood was spent in the Blue Ridge Mountains, camping in the Peaks of Otter, and canoeing down the James River.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The wind and waves whipped around us.—
Richard Greenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
According to initial police reports, the man sitting in the driver’s seat was pistol whipped and robbed of his wallet that contained cash and other personal items.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For centuries, Vikings navigated these waters by sail and oar; today, ferries and charter boats offer comfortable, scenic access to the islands.—
Caroline Van Hemert,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Mute swans do put on bursts of speed by oaring with their huge webbed feet.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
19 Oct. 2016
Verb
-
That’s why scrolling by date and scrubbing through videos still works — search hides uncertainty, scrolling shows everything.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Days after federal agents arrested the Ecuadorian mother hiding under a trailer on a snowy Minneapolis street, White House border czar Tom Homan said 700 federal law enforcement personnel will be withdrawn from the state.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddle. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
