1
2
as in licked
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 paddled
Young kids paddled near the shallow edges and bigger kids jumped off the cliffs above the swimming hole, causing the adults to gasp and scold.
—
Hazlitt, 4 Feb. 2026
Video showed one of the rescuers swimming out to Phoenix, who paddled toward the man.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
As a tragic week ended, thousands swam and paddled on boards off the coast of Bondi as the community came together to heal.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
The Indigenous Kayakers on the Klamath As the Klamath River was being freed from its dams, a group of teens paddled its full 300 miles—reclaiming a sacred waterway for their people.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
No death-defying rapids here on this lazy, looping stretch easily paddled by families in canoes.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Amazon Prime Video’s six-part thriller concluded with an ending that cannonballed into new territory and paddled swiftly away from the ending of Michelle Frances’ 2017 novel of the same name.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The girl’s mom got into a kayak, paddled out to the sinking canoe and rescued her daughter, but her boyfriend went underwater, deputies said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Hazlitt, 4 Feb. 2026
Video showed one of the rescuers swimming out to Phoenix, who paddled toward the man.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
As a tragic week ended, thousands swam and paddled on boards off the coast of Bondi as the community came together to heal.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
The Indigenous Kayakers on the Klamath As the Klamath River was being freed from its dams, a group of teens paddled its full 300 miles—reclaiming a sacred waterway for their people.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
No death-defying rapids here on this lazy, looping stretch easily paddled by families in canoes.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Amazon Prime Video’s six-part thriller concluded with an ending that cannonballed into new territory and paddled swiftly away from the ending of Michelle Frances’ 2017 novel of the same name.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The girl’s mom got into a kayak, paddled out to the sinking canoe and rescued her daughter, but her boyfriend went underwater, deputies said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddled
Verb
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President Emeritus at Orange Coast College, Grant is in a class by himself, having sailed or rowed enough times to have circumvented the world more than once.—
Richard Dunn,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
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Moran rowed crew all four years at the prestigious school, while Schlossberg studied history.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Though his injuries were severe, the sailors watched in wonder as the cat determinedly licked his wounds, then got back to work destroying the rats threatening the ship’s food stores.—
Anne Ewbank,
Popular Science,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Ghadimi licked her lips over and over.—
Babak Dehghanpisheh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The group of 11 skiers and four guides was returning from a three-day backcountry ski trip during a winter storm that dumped up to 7 feet of snow and lashed the mountains with 60 mph winds.—
Matt Gutman,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Clinton, instead of delivering the usual liberal-candidate-seeks-Black-votes hominy, lashed out at her words.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Like a medieval castle, where lords slept, blacksmiths pounded, soldiers trained, mummers mummed, and farmers sold their produce, the 21st century armory will be a mixed-use project in the truest sense.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Court documents say when the officers tried to leave, Catlett pounded on the hood and kicked the side door of their car.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pierce died after being whipped with a belt and being forced to stand in a cold shower, authorities said.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Winds whipped and livestock fled as first responders tried to quell the intense flames, another video showed.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Levi Rolles, who attended multiple protests at ICE's facility in Broadview, Illinois, was pelted with projectiles.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
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Employees pelted Martin with questions.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Surging prices for food and fuel over the previous year had battered Japanese households already pressed by stagnant wages and low pensions.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
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The goal, supervisors say, is to generate $1 billion per year to backfill the dwindling budgets of local hospitals and clinics battered by federal funding cuts.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Beware of the word ‘spread’ slapped across anything passing itself off as pimento cheese.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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The league also slapped the Pistons’ Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart with suspensions.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddled. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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