paddling 1 of 2

noun

as in whipping

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paddling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of paddle
1
as in kayaking
to move a boat by means of oars I like to paddle on the river for exercise and relaxation

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in licking
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 paddling
Noun
Where to Play Lake Winnipesaukee has a reputation for swimming, boating, paddling, and other water activities. — Annie Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026 Guadalupe River State Park entices visitors with its cool waters for tubing, paddling, and swimming and family-friendly campgrounds. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026 Several private schools in Ohio and Virginia permit paddling as discipline even though those states outlaw corporal punishment in public schools. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 16 July 2026 The clinics include water knowledge and hazards, dry land drills and games, water skills and drills, prone paddling on rescue boards, water rescue drills and relays. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Open paddling and beach use are available for the duration of the event. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026 In response, the paddlers near the front of the canoe momentarily pause their paddling and squeal as the sea lion splashes them. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 Escape to Shawnee National Forest for a serene cabin weekend of hiking, paddling, and wineries. — Jess Hoffert, Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
Verb
Create your own camp schedule with activities including paddling and swimming around the lake, fishing, hiking, croquet, golf, pickleball, tennis, or just lounging at the kid-friendly pool complete with a snack shack. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026 Other groups are paddling to pick-up points for evacuation while some outfitters are rescuing paddlers with towboats. — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 16 July 2026 The clip appears to show a woman wearing a pink swimsuit paddling a kayak and petting an alligator at Silver Springs State Park in Marion County. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026 This finding proved that, at least in robotics, a foot-paddling maneuver is completely unnecessary for liftoff. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026 There’s plenty to do here, including paddling the Crystal River or browsing art galleries. — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 9 July 2026 Today, the lesson will be more about handling the board, paddling and reading the ocean. — Heather Hiett, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Cradled in her arms, the newborn suckles eagerly, its tiny paws paddling the air with every gulp. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 Others have packed it on paddling excursions, long hikes, bike rides, and motorcycle road trips. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddling
  1. whipping
  2. kayaking
  3. licking
  4. thrashing
  5. rowing
  6. lashing
  7. flogging
  8. pounding
Noun
  • Self-mortifying pamagdarame rituals, including whipping and crucifixion, likewise have roots in medieval Christian tradition.
    — H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
  • They could also be seen transporting French fries, thick-cut onion rings, red and orange peppers, romaine and other produce, eggs, heavy whipping cream and whole milk.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Michael Aiden Vargas, 18, of Crestview was kayaking in the Blackwater River when he was struck by lightning and fell from his kayak around noon on May 31, WKRG, Wiregrass Daily News and Fox 10 TV reported, citing the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
  • Like going to Tahoe and kayaking in the two person kayak is like, that's like part of it.
    — Outside Online, Outside Online, 30 July 2025
Definition of kayaking
Verb
  • That means no tasting cookie dough made with raw eggs, no licking brownie batter off the beaters, and no homemade Caesar dressing made with uncooked yolks.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 23 July 2026
  • Other signs of stress included head shaking, licking its lips, yawning, or scratching behind the ears.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
Definition of licking
Noun
  • The Blågult had started so well, mind you, with a 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Jonathan David had a hat trick in last Thursday’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of thrashing
Verb
  • The Norwegian fans were delightful, rowing up escalators to the rhythm of their bass drum.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Googling his name on Thursday, two days out from the semi-final, even brought a special drumbeat and Norwegian emojis rowing across the screen.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of rowing
Verb
  • Relentless rains were lashing Texas Hill Country on Thursday, with flash flood emergencies reported across the region, rescues ongoing and waters rising to deadly levels.
    — Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • Julian Quinones — Mexico/Al Qadsiah (-7) Quinones took his World Cup goal tally to four by lashing a loose ball into the roof of the net against England.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of lashing
Noun
  • In October 2008, Greenspan underwent an hourslong public flogging on Capitol Hill from lawmakers who once hung on every word the former Fed chairman had to say.
    — Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • Aikens has a modest staff, including a host and a house dom, a professional dominant who performs demonstrations such as flogging and wax play for the 30-and-over crowd.
    — Victoria M. Walker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 May 2026
Definition of flogging
Verb
  • For much of the ’80s, Teresa Taylor (aka Teresa Nervosa) joined up as a second drummer, pounding tribal beats beside Coffey, and became a Gen-X icon after appearing in the 1990 film Slacker.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026
  • After pounding his drive down the final fairway, Fox hit his approach to just inside 12 feet and then dripped his birdie putt into the edge of the cup to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
    — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of pounding

Browse Nearby Words

paddles
paddling
padre
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Cite this Entry

“Paddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddling. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of paddling for Spanish Speakers

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