paddled

verb

past tense of paddle
1
as in rowed
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 licked
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 paddled The summer after the country celebrated its 200th birthday, David Hearn paddled a canoe nicknamed the Queen Mary around the Reflecting Pool as part of an event intended to draw attention to a sport that would later lead him to Olympic glory. — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 Charlie and Dolly hopped on board as their dad paddled them along this gorgeous surf. — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 Mystery illnesses have struck several groups of Grand Canyon rafters who paddled the Colorado River, prompting the National Park Service to investigate whether something in or along the river is making people sick. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 July 2026 On the coast, the quirky tradition that is the Hermosa Beach Ironman returned, too, as dozens of people ran, paddled and drank a six pack of suds. — Daily News, 4 July 2026 Some shaggy buffalo drowsed in a patch of shade, and a hose fed water into a large puddle where a white goose paddled in tight circles. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026 Authorities said Brian Hooker then paddled to shore and alerted someone about her disappearance early Sunday. — R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 The current carried her away, according to Brian, who paddled back to a marina at Marsh Harbor. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 Authorities said the woman’s husband paddled to shore and alerted someone about the incident early Sunday. — ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddled
  1. rowed
  2. licked
  3. lashed
  4. pounded
  5. whipped
  6. pelted
  7. battered
  8. slapped
Verb
  • The ship is regularly sailed and rowed, and on select outings visitors can even take an oar themselves—making Tønsberg one of the few places where World Cup fans can find out just how much harder the real thing is than the stadium version.
    — Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • In 1852, in America’s first intercollegiate sporting event, Harvard rowed past Yale to win the first Harvard-Yale Regatta.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Definition of rowed
Verb
  • Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Grande licked one of them, and fans were immediately outraged by the moment.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of licked
Verb
  • Earlier this month, Kennedy lashed out during an interview on CNN over vaccine and public health policies.
    — Daniel Payne, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The singer also lashed out at her parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, on social media.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • Bluefin tuna crudo is gently pounded and spread with a Peruvian-leaning tomato tear, lemon threads and olive oil.
    — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounded
Verb
  • Arcila scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 50th, then whipped the go-ahead goal past Óscar García for his fourth goal of the tournament.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The bullet apparently whipped across the cab and struck Salgado in the stomach.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • In Hackensack, heavy rain pelted cars traveling along River Road, which almost looked like a ride at a water park.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The episode feinted toward genuine rapprochement before yanking the rug out, leaving the Gang pelted with an industrial-grade indoor blizzard and then happily chucking rocks at passing trains, as was Mac and Charlie’s childhood tradition.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
Definition of pelted
Verb
  • There were delays, including some caused by three hurricanes — the Charley, Frances and Jeanne era — that battered the area.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Both came alive right along the Gulf Coast and were battered by wind shear every step of the way, which prevented them from strengthening significantly and limited their impacts overall.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of battered
Verb
  • Later in the series, Shah finds himself getting slapped in the face.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Slapping and/or being slapped was one of Oliver’s handful of requests for his soap opera appearance, along with playing a character with a ridiculous name, and wearing an equally ridiculous wig.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of slapped

Browse Nearby Words

paddleboats
paddled
paddles
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Cite this Entry

“Paddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddled. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of paddled for Spanish Speakers

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