pitch 1 of 2

noun

Definition of pitchnext
1
as in dive
an act or instance of diving the daring pitch of the escaped prisoner into the swirling ocean waters at the base of the cliff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the steep pitch of the roof makes it too dangerous to walk on

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pitch

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position needed help pitching a tent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plunge
to cast oneself head first into deep water when a wave hit the float, I lost my balance and pitched into the lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the ship pitched in the choppy sea

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm pitched the baseball almost 50 feet

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted we decided to pitch that whole system and start over again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to promote
to provide publicity for the cutting-edge ad agency was hired to pitch our products to a younger generation of consumers

Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in to slope
to set or cause to be at an angle the roof should be pitched steeply enough to prevent an excessive accumulation of snow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pitch distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pitch are cast, fling, hurl, sling, throw, and toss. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When could cast be used to replace pitch?

The synonyms cast and pitch are sometimes interchangeable, but cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for pitch?

The words fling and pitch can be used in similar contexts, but fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

In what contexts can hurl take the place of pitch?

Although the words hurl and pitch have much in common, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

When is it sensible to use sling instead of pitch?

In some situations, the words sling and pitch are roughly equivalent. However, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

Where would throw be a reasonable alternative to pitch?

The words throw and pitch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

When can toss be used instead of pitch?

The meanings of toss and pitch largely overlap; however, toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

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 pitch
Noun
Argentina While Argentina’s on-pitch style is anything but relaxed, their color palette pairs perfectly with dreamy designs, light fabrics, and airy silhouettes. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 July 2026 Former Cubs pitcher and World Series champion Kyle Hendricks will throw a ceremonial first pitch before Saturday’s game, and members of the 2016 World Series championship team will sing during the seventh-inning stretch. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Verb
When one of the familiar players slumps, there will be other players hitting or pitching well enough to make up for it. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 15 July 2026 Max Meyer, who was selected to his first All-Star Game but did not pitch Tuesday, is in the middle of the best season of his career. — Tyler M. Carmona july 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pitch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitch
  1. dive
  2. slope
  3. erect
  4. plunge
  5. sway
  6. throw
  7. dump
  8. promote
Noun
  • Evans hit another amazing dive to the outside on Theory before tossing Breakker into the timekeepers area.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • There are shallow but rich dives; full-of-life, accessible wrecks; and thriving reefs, including my favorite spot, the unlikely cement plant, with seahorses and octopus reclining beneath its pier pilings—pilings that are fantastical once underwater.
    — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
Definition of dive
Noun
  • Massive amounts of rocks and soil roared down a slope and buried more than 10 residential buildings early Friday in Pengshui County on the outskirts of Chongqing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Those neighborhoods are the most vulnerable to these landslides anywhere at the bottom of a hill, anywhere underneath a slope.
    — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of slope
Verb
  • Atsushi Matono is responsible for erecting the shingi, a sacred tree placed at the top of one of the floats —the holiest part of the structure, to which a deity is believed to descend.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • New this year will be an enormous 20-foot tipi, as well as a demonstration area revealing the process of erecting tipi’s step-by-step.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Atlantia was the controlling shareholder in motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia at the time of the disaster which killed 43 ​people when their vehicles plunged from the flyover.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The satellites would only survive about 20 minutes before ultimately plunging to their fiery doom reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
    — Lee Billings & Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026
Definition of plunge
Verb
  • Two men who were with Salgado Araujo disputed the government’s account, saying the agents’ vehicles bumped into them and then swayed into the van, forcing them to stop.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Some gold ETFs directly invest in bullion kept in vaults, while others invest in shares of mining companies that tend to follow the price of gold while also being swayed by the companies’ management decisions, efficiency and financials.
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of sway
Verb
  • Stockton threw the most passing touchdowns of any high school quarterback in state history (177) as a four-year starter for the Wildcats.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • The midfielder was deemed to have delayed a restart by throwing the ball away.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of throw
Verb
  • The documentary also presents a new analysis of tidal patterns in the San Francisco Bay, which may dispute the prosecution’s theories about where Laci’s body was dumped.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026
  • Part of the issue was Disney’s decision to release the show, which had been completed since around 2024, all at once, dumping 22 episodes onto the platform with limited prior advertising.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of dump
Verb
  • The woman was given a warning but later promoted, according to the lawsuit.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, is much less restrictive and actually promotes the consumption of red wine in moderation.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of promote

Phrases Containing pitch

Browse Nearby Words

pit bulls
pitch
pitch-black
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitch. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on pitch

Nglish: Translation of pitch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pitch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All