1
as in swaps
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 flaps
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 hides
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 reverses
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 licks
to strike repeatedly
the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in whips
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 flicks
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 punches
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
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Recent Examples of switches
Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
With the session ticking towards the two-hour mark, Mudryk switches to shots from outside the box.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Executive chef Tim Charles switches up menus daily, although a few staples like the moose burger and lobster and kale broth make repeat appearances.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Now, just like daylight saving time, California switches back and forth from winter-formula gasoline to summer-formula gasoline.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
And by the middle of the 19th century, English mathematics switches over to Leibniz’s notation, and the transformation is really complete.
—John Pavlus, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
While the morning encourages bouncing around like that, a harmonious lunar trine to transformative Pluto later switches the galaxy’s focus to deeper questions.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Over WhatsApp and at their regular gatherings, the group seamlessly switches back and forth between Mandarin and English while seeking to stick to Mandarin as much as possible.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
When carb intake is low, your body switches to ketones as an alternate energy source.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 16 Mar. 2026
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Accessibility There are nine accessible rooms and suites across room categories that offer wheelchair-accessible entrances and terraces, roll-in rain showers, and lowered door handles, peepholes, and light switches.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Highlights include an elegant, compact profile, incredible-feeling low-profile optical switches, a striking mini LCD in the top-right corner, and Elgato Stream Deck integration.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 12 Apr. 2026
Lumentum has said that its optical circuit switches (OCS) are on track to reach $400 million in sales in the second half of 2026, followed by an acceleration of the business in 2027.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
The Raptors, Barnes especially, have excelled on these types of switches all year.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For his offensive gifts, the 7-foot-1 center is far from a deterrent at the rim and even less effective on switches.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
The lens switches from distant to close subjects in a snap.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
With the session ticking towards the two-hour mark, Mudryk switches to shots from outside the box.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Executive chef Tim Charles switches up menus daily, although a few staples like the moose burger and lobster and kale broth make repeat appearances.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Now, just like daylight saving time, California switches back and forth from winter-formula gasoline to summer-formula gasoline.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
And by the middle of the 19th century, English mathematics switches over to Leibniz’s notation, and the transformation is really complete.
—John Pavlus, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
While the morning encourages bouncing around like that, a harmonious lunar trine to transformative Pluto later switches the galaxy’s focus to deeper questions.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Over WhatsApp and at their regular gatherings, the group seamlessly switches back and forth between Mandarin and English while seeking to stick to Mandarin as much as possible.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
When carb intake is low, your body switches to ketones as an alternate energy source.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
Brooklyn needed more from Claxton than rim runs, switches and finishes.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Accessibility There are nine accessible rooms and suites across room categories that offer wheelchair-accessible entrances and terraces, roll-in rain showers, and lowered door handles, peepholes, and light switches.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Highlights include an elegant, compact profile, incredible-feeling low-profile optical switches, a striking mini LCD in the top-right corner, and Elgato Stream Deck integration.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 12 Apr. 2026
Lumentum has said that its optical circuit switches (OCS) are on track to reach $400 million in sales in the second half of 2026, followed by an acceleration of the business in 2027.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
The Raptors, Barnes especially, have excelled on these types of switches all year.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For his offensive gifts, the 7-foot-1 center is far from a deterrent at the rim and even less effective on switches.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
Here, chef Hugh Acheson swaps out the sugar for maple syrup and adds fresh marjoram and chiles, yielding an earthier dish with just the right amount of heat.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In these images, Monroe swaps hyper-glam for vulnerability.—
Joshua John Miller,
Vanity Fair,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
-
View gallery - 7 images A wooden dragon sculpture that gently flaps its wings has become a crowd-funding hit, but after seeing the traditional handcrafted work that's been put into every single model, making each one unique, the value of such a piece becomes strikingly clear.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wall hooks catch sun hats or coats, depending on the season, and the vintage Oushak rug hides stains with its existing patina.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This party-girl persona hides a tender heart.—
E.R. Pulgar,
Pitchfork,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The decision over the Ten Commandments law reverses a lower federal court ruling that had blocked about a dozen Texas school districts — including some of the state's largest — from putting up the posters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But as soon as one flagellar motor reverses direction and starts rotating clockwise, the bundle falls apart; the reverse-twirling filament unravels the braid and puts the cell’s flagellar motors at cross-purposes, kicking the cell around.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His tail whips against the stalks of flowers planted by the woman who recently moved there with him.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Johnson is one of two majority whips.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Known for satirizing horror flicks, the Scary Movie films launched with the first title hitting theaters in 2000 before spawning four sequels.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
-
More than a dozen films grossed over $100 million in China in 2017, but only two flicks have reached that milestone annually over the last several years.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Then Freeman woke up Friday morning to the news that was delivering gut punches throughout the baseball world, that Anderson had passed away Thursday at 53.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Benches cleared, and cooler heads did not prevail, though no punches were thrown.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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