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
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Recent Examples of paddle
LaMothe died of a heart attack last October while paddling his plane out from the shore of a lake in the Ontario bush, preparatory to flying out a party of four moose hunters.
—
Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
The Russian River traces the valley with swim holes and paddling access points nearby.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Community ‘heartbroken’ over sewage spill Philip Gray used to enjoy paddling down the river in a canoe or floating in an inner tube, beer in hand, toward his home in Cabin John.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Days revolve around family time on the sand, paddling on the water, and gobbling scrumptious seafood.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paddle
Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
The Russian River traces the valley with swim holes and paddling access points nearby.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Community ‘heartbroken’ over sewage spill Philip Gray used to enjoy paddling down the river in a canoe or floating in an inner tube, beer in hand, toward his home in Cabin John.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Days revolve around family time on the sand, paddling on the water, and gobbling scrumptious seafood.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddle
Verb
-
To take your trip beyond the town limits, kayak the river with a rental from Hudson Paddles or head to the Empire State Trail, which has an entry point just blocks from downtown.—
Sarah Cahalan,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 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
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The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The dog ignored him, and licked the boy’s face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But in December the White House announced a twelve-billion-dollar bailout to row-crop farmers.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Even as the Hudson Theatre was still filling up, the star of the Harry Potter movie franchise (and much theater after that) was bobbing and flitting from row to row, exuding equal parts friendliness and determination of purpose.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Harvey Prager had been on watch for hours, steering through lashing rain and 20-foot waves in the Yucatan Channel.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
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Instead of having a rational conversation with Nick, Gloria lashes out and the two split.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Mar. 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
-
Drizzle it into balsamic vinaigrette, or take the plunge and whip it into caramel pots de crème.—
Kristen Hartke,
Saveur,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The high waist bunched a little when seated, but it was hardly cause for breaking focus when attempting an inversion (the whipping wind, however, was another story).—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 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
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Mute swans do put on bursts of speed by oaring with their huge webbed feet.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
19 Oct. 2016
Verb
-
Afterward, Smith didn’t hide his frustration.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Mar. 2026
-
And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddle. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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