as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement
a spanking and speedy little horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
the bathroom tiles were spanking white when she finished cleaning them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spanking
Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024
But the 98-room hotel — occupying floors 40 to 45 of a spanking new mixed-use tower above Tokyo Station in the salary-man district of Chiyoda — is also a first for the brand.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 16 May 2023
Christina Capatides, CBS News, 11 May 2018
Is this just about opportunistic politicians dipping into state coffers so they can be photographed cutting the ribbon at a spanking new factory?
—New York Times, 8 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for spanking
Adverb
We’d been regularly hit by our father with a spanking spoon for talking back and fighting.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024
But the 98-room hotel — occupying floors 40 to 45 of a spanking new mixed-use tower above Tokyo Station in the salary-man district of Chiyoda — is also a first for the brand.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 16 May 2023
Verb
There was Vice President Biden's inaugural bromance selfie with President Obama on his brand spanking new Instagram account.
—Christina Capatides, CBS News, 11 May 2018
Is this just about opportunistic politicians dipping into state coffers so they can be photographed cutting the ribbon at a spanking new factory?
—New York Times, 8 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for spanking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spanking
Adjective
-
Riegel agrees, noting that the show doesn’t just settle into the tone of a typical animated series, in Critical Role’s style or otherwise.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Those episodes were made with the company's proprietary AI engine, fine-tuned for animated storytelling.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Monster has debuted into this very fraught political moment where, despite no evidence showing a link between violence and transness, right-wingers have gone to great pains to paint almost every mass shooter who makes front page news as trans in hopes of stripping trans people of their rights.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In early 2024, support for Israel’s war was very high, if lower among Democrats.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Really, there’s only one character onstage who commands an audience’s attention, and that’s Hines’ gum-smacking sister-in-law, who turns from antagonist to supporter.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle for most home runs in one season for a switch hitter after smacking his 54th dinger yesterday.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Throughout an offseason devoted to expansive training, that spirit was on full display — including during the lively knockout games at Prentiss’ gym.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Discussions about the fast-changing international TV distribution market are ten-a-penny at industry conferences, but the group made a lively and worthwhile contribution to the pantheon.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Some genres may be extremely violent and gory, so parents may want to consider supervising their children's viewing of films or avoid them altogether.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Grain bins and silos can be extremely deadly if people get trapped inside.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Omarion Hampton injured his ankle, knocking him out of the game.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some rope and stanchion kept them from knock, knocking on the wood.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Alvarado has become Colombia's most energetic proponent of the technique.—
John Otis,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Patterson is energetic and fun here.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
But damn if the Hostmaster General did not then go and do it.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
-
No one gets hour-long lines without damn good BBQ, no matter how inventive the flavors.—
Farhan Mustafa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spanking. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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