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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Recent Examples of 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
Sadly, they are sent doggy paddling home.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 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
Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Add pro sports, craft beer, food halls, and mangrove paddling nearby, and Tampa shapes up as a dynamic weekend getaway.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
Pack food, grab a spot with bay views and spend a full day cycling, paddling and recovering without leaving the park for meals.
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
LaMothe died of a heart attack last October while paddling his plane out from the shore of a lake in the Ontario bush, preparatory to flying out a party of four moose hunters.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
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
Sadly, they are sent doggy paddling home.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 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
Verb
When attempting an outing before water levels come back up again, Cannon Spring and Tobacco Patch Spring can be accessed by putting in at Paynes Landing (Cypress Bayou Boat Ramp) in Fort McCoy and paddling upstream, then floating back down.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Add pro sports, craft beer, food halls, and mangrove paddling nearby, and Tampa shapes up as a dynamic weekend getaway.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
Pack food, grab a spot with bay views and spend a full day cycling, paddling and recovering without leaving the park for meals.
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
LaMothe died of a heart attack last October while paddling his plane out from the shore of a lake in the Ontario bush, preparatory to flying out a party of four moose hunters.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddling
Noun
-
The hair-whipping, chest-thumping church founder uprooted her polarizing sect from Manchester, England, to Manhattan before fleeing farther still into the countryside.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
In 1918, then-owner Philip Guichet invented the Grasshopper cocktail, incorporating white and green crème de menthe, white and dark crème de cacao, heavy whipping cream and brandy.—
Stephanie Gallman Jordan,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 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
-
The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
-
On April 30, 2025, the dog was reportedly licking its tail and lethargic.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The first was at Wolverhampton Wanderers, then the second was in the closing stages of the thrashing of Crystal Palace at Elland Road.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Stevenson played his best game in the Pats’ regular-season finale, a 38-10 thrashing of Miami.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 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
-
And yet, Trump has also managed to avoid complex questions about those issues — the most pressing before his administration — and despite Democrats and some of his own supporters lashing out over them.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Noem and her chief adviser Corey Lewandowski -- who is reportedly also departing DHS -- both had a knack for lashing out, yelling and berating staff that crossed them, according to sources.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 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
-
Using traditional Ukrainian folklore songs, voiceover plus pounding music, the stakes these young people confront become clearly apparent.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Everything around him pounding in its pulse, the song of the world thronging in all its discord.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddling. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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