paddle

verb

Definition of paddlenext
1
as in to kayak
to move a boat by means of oars I like to paddle on the river for exercise and relaxation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 For starters, small robots that can hop over debris and paddle through water using the same limbs are useful in inspections and search-and-rescue operations in debris-heavy sites. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 Clotilde Charpentier, who could play music no better than a hen could float and paddle in the Patriarch’s Ponds, would walk behind John’s coffin, with a heavy black veil to shield herself from the January wind and people’s appraising looks. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Cime Aventure leads paddling excursions on the Bonaventure River, one of the clearest in the world, and a highlight on the Gaspésie Tour. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026 In coastal sections of New York and New Jersey, the storm triggered such intense flooding that residents were seen paddling through their neighborhoods on kayaks and canoes, past parked cars that had become partially or nearly submerged in water. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddle
  1. kayak
  2. lick
  3. row
  4. lash
  5. canoe
  6. whip
  7. oar
  8. hide
Verb
  • Visitors can kayak through salt marshes, take dolphin cruises, visit neighboring Sullivan’s Island, and dine at casual seafood restaurants.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026
  • From late September through October, visitors can stroll the Reno Riverwalk, explore Rancho San Rafael Park or venture to nearby North Lake Tahoe to kayak crystal-clear waters and hike Monkey Rock for sweeping lake and foliage views.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of kayak
Verb
  • After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • But the lively crew at the urinals was already licking its lips in anticipation.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Reënactors dressed as British soldiers got in a dory and rowed from the schooner to the beach’s edge.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The 2,200 oarsmen from the Royal Thai Navy started their training in June, learning how to row the barges in unison at a navy dockyard before rehearsing in the river in late July.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of row
Verb
  • The snake tried to circle and squeeze, but the rat lashed with her claws and teeth.
    — Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • News of the briefing leaked, and the senators lashed out at the FBI, saying their efforts to scrutinize the Biden family had been discredited and falsely linked to Russian disinformation.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of lash
Verb
  • Before tucking into an unforgettable meal, head to the Pickering Creek Audubon Center to hike or canoe around the marsh, or spend a couple of hours exploring the historic downtown area.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2026
  • On the surface level, there are over 80 miles of trails, with varying degrees of difficulty and opportunities to canoe, kayak, or boat on the Green River.
    — Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 15 June 2026
Definition of canoe
Verb
  • Tracee Ellis Ross, meanwhile, happily obliged when photographers asked her to whip her long ponytail for the cameras.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of whip
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
Definition of oar
Verb
  • If a suspicious sample directly reduces a model’s reward, the model could learn to hide its behavior instead of correcting it.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Kettle Moraine State Forest is right at our edge, and there are nooks and crannies where something could hide.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hide

Browse Nearby Words

paddings
paddle
paddleboat
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Cite this Entry

“Paddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddle. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paddle

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