1
as in to swap
to give up (something) and take something else in return
switched the real grapes for fake ones switched the day of his flight from Thursday to Friday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to flick
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
switched the stagecoach horses to control the direction they took
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to reverse
to change (as an opinion) to the contrary
a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in whip
a long thin or flexible tool for striking
struck the horse's hide with a leather switch, and it took off at a gallop
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flick
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
that telltale switch of the cat's tail meant there was a mouse under the piano
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in swipe
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
in frustration, he gave the mule a sharp switch on the rump, but it still wouldn't budge
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 switch
Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026
The meltdown in Hollywood’s backyard has been a decades-long, asleep-at-the-switch governance disaster.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for switch
Verb
This year marked the 51st edition of the longest-running major street race in North America, which started in 1975 as part of the Formula 5000 Series, switched to the CART/Champ Car World Series in 1984 and joined the IndyCar Series in 2009.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
The ChillPill has a safety switch to prevent accidental activation while in your bag.
—Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026
The meltdown in Hollywood’s backyard has been a decades-long, asleep-at-the-switch governance disaster.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switch
Verb
-
Miami then swapped it to San Francisco to move up in the draft, and the 49ers shipped it to the New York Jets to move down.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The money will replace the oldest playground in Boise’s inventory, swap a single portable toilet for a four-season restroom, build a new parking lot and bring the park up to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, Records said.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Down 2-1 in the 11th minute of stoppage time, Pinnock’s pass was flicked on by Sowunmi at the near-post and nodded down by striker Marcus Dinanga for 18-year-old George Evans to score.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The game was heading for a penalty shootout when Tomás produced a moment of individual skill by twisting in the air between two defenders as a pass came in from Badredine Bouanani and using his heel to flick the ball past Freiburg's otherwise outstanding goalkeeper Florian Müller.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After school, the siblings liked to climb in a willow that was in front of their home, hiding from their parents beneath the sweep of its branches.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Every statistic about patient safety hides a human story.—
Joe Kiani,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once a long-suffering underling to Streep’s Priestly, her fortunes have now dramatically reversed.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Comcast has shown an appetite for M&A, and the cable and broadband sector is seeing consolidation, but the media giant for now is focused less on dealmaking than on reversing negative investor sentiment.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s Cassie licking a melting ice cream cone as the ice cream drips down her bare chest.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Other players use wet towels or even lick their hands and wipe the bottom of their shoes to get more grip.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Richard is so gifted, whip smart, and wickedly funny.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
As majority whip, Barrasso is responsible for firming up Republican support, while Graham is ushering the legislation along as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each slim design comes in two fetching contrasting colors (available in nine color combos) and has a secure magnetic closure on the flap to keep eyewear safe.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Brandi is a top zip crossbody with a fold over front flap secured with a magnetic closure.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Denver Post gave Friednash, a corporate Democratic centrist mouthpiece, the opportunity to take swipes at Melat Kiros, who garnered nearly two-thirds of the caucus vote for the 1st Congressional District race.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Xi’s outreach to Cheng came along with overt swipes at Taiwan’s current government under President Lai Ching-te, who is shunned by Beijing as a dangerous ‘separatist’ for rejecting China’s claim that Taiwan is its territory.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switch. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
