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
Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Lanesboro also is a lovely place for tubing or paddling, as part of the Root River State Water Trail.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 7 May 2026
Stroll its walkable downtown for art galleries, cafes, and the historic courthouse, or head to Seven Bends State Park for hiking, paddling, and sweeping river views from the Woodstock Tower.
—Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Folsom Lake was near capacity heading into peak paddling season, and was at 94% of capacity Friday morning, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
This camp is a great introduction to the sport for those interested in learning the basics of water safety, kayaking, outrigger paddling and stand-up paddling.
—Jessie Dax-Setkus, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Unlike some sun shirts that become baggy in the water, the Wild Cast maintained a streamlined feel that moved naturally while swimming or paddling.
—Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
The mix of challenging mountain bike trails, protected paddling waters, bayside picnic areas and (when available) overnight cabins makes this a versatile destination.
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 5 May 2026
In the five-minute work, Pau employs snippets lifted from government newsreels, most notably footage of a swimming contest held at Victoria Harbor in the 1960s showing throngs of Hong Kong citizens launching themselves into the ocean and paddling enthusiastically.
—Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Wear a life jacket when swimming in or paddling on the water.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2026
Authorities were told that the ducks had fallen and were paddling beneath the grate of a storm drain.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Peddling crafts and paddling canoes—sometimes even the tribal council wants to relax into that image.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
As PaddleSC explained, paddling to these lilies isn't difficult, but is rated as a moderately strenuous task.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2026
Standing with his 13-year-old son, Liam, in the plaza at the foot of the Imperial Beach Pier on a clear Wednesday morning, Henry bowed his head to pray before paddling out.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
Rafters also undergo a training session, which includes safety information, paddling instructions, and a Q&A session with a guide before heading out.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Lanesboro also is a lovely place for tubing or paddling, as part of the Root River State Water Trail.
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 7 May 2026
Stroll its walkable downtown for art galleries, cafes, and the historic courthouse, or head to Seven Bends State Park for hiking, paddling, and sweeping river views from the Woodstock Tower.
—Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Folsom Lake was near capacity heading into peak paddling season, and was at 94% of capacity Friday morning, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
This camp is a great introduction to the sport for those interested in learning the basics of water safety, kayaking, outrigger paddling and stand-up paddling.
—Jessie Dax-Setkus, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Unlike some sun shirts that become baggy in the water, the Wild Cast maintained a streamlined feel that moved naturally while swimming or paddling.
—Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
The mix of challenging mountain bike trails, protected paddling waters, bayside picnic areas and (when available) overnight cabins makes this a versatile destination.
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
Video from early January shows the coyote paddling in the chilly San Francisco Bay and then struggling to get onto the rocky island.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
In the five-minute work, Pau employs snippets lifted from government newsreels, most notably footage of a swimming contest held at Victoria Harbor in the 1960s showing throngs of Hong Kong citizens launching themselves into the ocean and paddling enthusiastically.
—Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Wear a life jacket when swimming in or paddling on the water.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2026
Authorities were told that the ducks had fallen and were paddling beneath the grate of a storm drain.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Peddling crafts and paddling canoes—sometimes even the tribal council wants to relax into that image.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
As PaddleSC explained, paddling to these lilies isn't difficult, but is rated as a moderately strenuous task.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2026
Standing with his 13-year-old son, Liam, in the plaza at the foot of the Imperial Beach Pier on a clear Wednesday morning, Henry bowed his head to pray before paddling out.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddling
Noun
-
There was physical violence as well — whippings, beatings, even bricks thrown.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Michael’s tendency to speak up earned him frequent whippings with his father’s belt.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 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
-
Then they got knocked to the ice, stomped on and left licking their feathers after the first two periods of their Stanley Cup playoff game with the Vegas Golden Knights.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
But host Kristen Kish is licking her lips at the prospect of taking the show even further afield in the future.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Arsenal enters the match as the favorite, but Sporting has been resilient in the Champions League, rebounding from a 3-0 loss to tournament darlings Bodo/Glimt with a 5-0 thrashing in Lisbon.—
Pueng Vongs,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His only Champions League goal arrived in January’s 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, and his only assists in the competition came in similarly comfortable wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In June 2024, friends Brendan Cusick, Scott Forman, Peter Durso, and Patrick Morrissey came together as team Human Powered Potential, launching from Monterey, California, and rowing west toward Hawaii on the World’s Toughest Row.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Until Chicago, the state’s economic engine, can begin rowing in the same policy directions as our representatives in Springfield, getting Illinois out of the economic mud will continue to be an uphill battle.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The whole episode, Kyle is a pendulum swinging between anger and sadness, between lashing out and injuring Amanda, and looking to be the victim.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
-
San José Mayor Matt Mahan started off the debate by lashing out at both Republicans and Democrats.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
None of that requires punishing him with a public flogging.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In September 1850, Congress banned flogging on all US ships.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
JWords takes a different tack on Sound Therapy, embracing gentle synth melodies and pads that take the edge off her skittering drums and pounding basslines.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
-
Apple Bank of America said Apple remains a table-pounding buy.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddling. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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