as in whipping
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as in licking
to strike repeatedly
back in those times it was acceptable for teachers to paddle misbehaving students
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paddling
Graham Averill, Outside, 23 Feb. 2026
Spring and fall strike a quieter note, while winter offers the calmest experience for hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
With its scenic bluffs alongside a 360-acre lake and ample opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, swimming and paddling, Devil's Lake remains a favorite destination for Wisconsinites – and visitors to the state.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Think days spent swimming, snorkeling, paddling, and learning about Polynesian nature and culture.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
The rugged islands offer opportunities for backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling and diving.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Kayak polo introduces participants to a competitive water sport that combines paddling skills with team strategy.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
The paddling comes as revenge for multiple times Marty insults the businessman throughout the movie.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Community ‘heartbroken’ over sewage spill Philip Gray used to enjoy paddling down the river in a canoe or floating in an inner tube, beer in hand, toward his home in Cabin John.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Days revolve around family time on the sand, paddling on the water, and gobbling scrumptious seafood.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Throughout the personal disarray, the production is even-keeled, paddling patiently through waves of ambient, dub techno, and progressive house that never truly crest.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
After paddling the shoreline of Ramah Bay, my group of kayakers ventured ashore to a small waterfall.
—Robert Annis, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026
Dampened by sleet while paddling in Maine’s Casco Bay, its insulating power stayed strong.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
Greenfield arrived in Florida in early January, then embarked on a voyage of reflection and solitude while paddling for nearly two weeks in the Florida Everglades.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
The clip ends with the couple paddling away, clearly shaken but unharmed and newly aware of just how small they are compared to one of the ocean’s largest creatures.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Also, paddling is quiet and a great way to see local wildlife.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 23 Feb. 2026
Spring and fall strike a quieter note, while winter offers the calmest experience for hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
With its scenic bluffs alongside a 360-acre lake and ample opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, swimming and paddling, Devil's Lake remains a favorite destination for Wisconsinites – and visitors to the state.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Think days spent swimming, snorkeling, paddling, and learning about Polynesian nature and culture.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
The rugged islands offer opportunities for backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling and diving.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Kayak polo introduces participants to a competitive water sport that combines paddling skills with team strategy.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
The paddling comes as revenge for multiple times Marty insults the businessman throughout the movie.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
The Russian River traces the valley with swim holes and paddling access points nearby.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Community ‘heartbroken’ over sewage spill Philip Gray used to enjoy paddling down the river in a canoe or floating in an inner tube, beer in hand, toward his home in Cabin John.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Days revolve around family time on the sand, paddling on the water, and gobbling scrumptious seafood.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Throughout the personal disarray, the production is even-keeled, paddling patiently through waves of ambient, dub techno, and progressive house that never truly crest.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
After paddling the shoreline of Ramah Bay, my group of kayakers ventured ashore to a small waterfall.
—Robert Annis, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026
Dampened by sleet while paddling in Maine’s Casco Bay, its insulating power stayed strong.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
Greenfield arrived in Florida in early January, then embarked on a voyage of reflection and solitude while paddling for nearly two weeks in the Florida Everglades.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
The clip ends with the couple paddling away, clearly shaken but unharmed and newly aware of just how small they are compared to one of the ocean’s largest creatures.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddling
Noun
-
The earliest depictions of slavery were already crawling with the terrible proceedings the Gothic tends to depict, from bloody whippings to family curses to the wrathful wraiths of the slain enslaved.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
With the help of heavy whipping cream and parmesan, fresh corn turns into a delicious, creamy pasta sauce for this dinnertime recipe.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Spit Heathcliff spends a lot of time straight-up licking Cathy’s face in this movie.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Even in the trailer, scenes of slapping dough, Robbie and Elordi kissing in the rain and Elordi licking a wall were telltale signs that this would be a heightened version of the actual romance depicted in the book.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Stevenson played his best game in the Pats’ regular-season finale, a 38-10 thrashing of Miami.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
DeKalb told Outside that Benjamin—who was rowing an 18-foot raft alone—was the last member of their party to run the rapid.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Rob Williams, a managing director in global banking and markets for Goldman Sachs, has spent his entire 14-year corporate career at the company since retiring from rowing in his 20s.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In recent days, the president has remained defiant on the issue, lashing out at the justices for delivering a legal setback on his tariffs, and looking to impose new global tariffs in a different way.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This could be because the leader themselves is emotionally reactive and people are just parroting what is modeled, or because there are no ground rules for conversations and no consequences given for lashing out.—
Blair Glaser,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cheating has been part of the Olympics since the ancient games, when violators were punished with fines, public flogging or lifetime bans.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Despite a pretty lively premiere week thanks to a public flogging from critics that seemed to pique audience interest, All’s Fair did have some tough competition during that interval as well.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Dozens of flights between the East Coast and Los Angeles International Airport were cancelled Monday morning due to the blizzard that is pounding a large swath of the nation’s Eastern Seaboard.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In the meantime, Sarandos has been pounding the drum of more Paramount pain to come.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddling. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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