1
2
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
back in those times it was acceptable for teachers to paddle misbehaving students
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddles
Verb
-
What Happens Before Takeoff Before departure, flight attendants walk through the exit rows to ensure everything is ready.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026 -
These included Barca’s infamous ‘levers’, delays and problems with the Camp Nou rebuild, rows with club legends Xavi and Lionel Messi, and continuing shadows over the club’s finances.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump lashes out at NATO and the Pope, again.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The brand’s hero reusable Plushy lashes retail for $25 a pair, while the brand’s Control Kits, which include application tools, retail for about $125.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every statistic about patient safety hides a human story.—
Joe Kiani,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Produced by Red Planet Pictures, a Fremantle company, the show is set in a leafy London suburb and follows devoted couple Alex and Beth, whose picture-perfect life hides a devastating truth.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not so much because Paul puts on-again, off-again partner Dakota Mortensen into a headlock and then pelts him with metal bar stools — sadly, this is a scene that would not be out of place on many reality shows — but because a small child is in the room.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Robot beats elite human players at table tennis A robot beat elite human players at table tennis, a landmark victory in a competitive sport.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Take, for example, Republican James Fishback, who, according to recent polling from Keystone Analytics, beats Jolly by almost five points in a head-to-head matchup.—
Thomas C. Shank,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Paddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddles. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
