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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of switches
William Guillory, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Ciays 42-Inch Gas Fire Pit Table This option has a removable lid that instantly switches it from a modern outdoor table to an upscale fire pit for gathering.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Though the kitchen switches up the presentation seasonally, on my visit, these tender little pillows floated in a delicate tomatoey broth alongside chunks of local Louisiana crab.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
By replacing silicon with a magnetic semiconductor, the team created a device that not only switches current but can also store information.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
After reading some of the nonsensical speech, Jordan switches to the female form and goes off-script to reveal that Andre’s dead.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Season two hits Prime Video September 17, with the first three episodes landing before the show switches to a weekly release schedule.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The Ultra 3 also switches from an LTPO2 OLED display to a wide-angle LTPO3 OLED, which should keep the screen looking bright even when viewed at an extreme angle.
—PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Companies go out of business and sell him their remaining stock, or someone switches to LEDs and gives him their extra incandescents rather than throw them away.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2025
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The interior of the concept comprises sumptuous leatherwork and controls defined by physical knobs, dials, and switches.
—Stephen Treffinger, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
The firearm components, many of them 3D printed, included switches that allowed semi-automatic weapons to be fired as fully automatic, triggers, and frames for Glock handguns, according to police testimony.
—Pj Green
september 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Transparency instead of testing Where the vetoed SB 1047 would have mandated safety testing and kill switches for AI systems, the new law focuses on disclosure.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2025
While our villa had not been recently refreshed, the only telltale sign was the excessively large switches and dimmers trailing up the walls.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
But however, there are many safety micro switches in the entire unit that would stop the escalator in certain circumstances, and that's how they are designed.
—Majd Al-Waheidi, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
The former switches from a full-time to a part-time role next year.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Positional switches in the second half paid dividends for Andover in the second half, mostly dominating possession over the last two frames.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
There’s also a chance Udoka switches up his starting five based on the matchup.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Ciays 42-Inch Gas Fire Pit Table This option has a removable lid that instantly switches it from a modern outdoor table to an upscale fire pit for gathering.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Though the kitchen switches up the presentation seasonally, on my visit, these tender little pillows floated in a delicate tomatoey broth alongside chunks of local Louisiana crab.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
By replacing silicon with a magnetic semiconductor, the team created a device that not only switches current but can also store information.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
After reading some of the nonsensical speech, Jordan switches to the female form and goes off-script to reveal that Andre’s dead.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Season two hits Prime Video September 17, with the first three episodes landing before the show switches to a weekly release schedule.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The Ultra 3 also switches from an LTPO2 OLED display to a wide-angle LTPO3 OLED, which should keep the screen looking bright even when viewed at an extreme angle.
—PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Companies go out of business and sell him their remaining stock, or someone switches to LEDs and gives him their extra incandescents rather than throw them away.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Welcome to the Swiss Model The Women’s Champions League switches to the Swiss model this season, mirroring the men’s competition, which has used the format since last season.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The interior of the concept comprises sumptuous leatherwork and controls defined by physical knobs, dials, and switches.
—Stephen Treffinger, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
The firearm components, many of them 3D printed, included switches that allowed semi-automatic weapons to be fired as fully automatic, triggers, and frames for Glock handguns, according to police testimony.
—Pj Green
september 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Transparency instead of testing Where the vetoed SB 1047 would have mandated safety testing and kill switches for AI systems, the new law focuses on disclosure.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2025
While our villa had not been recently refreshed, the only telltale sign was the excessively large switches and dimmers trailing up the walls.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
But however, there are many safety micro switches in the entire unit that would stop the escalator in certain circumstances, and that's how they are designed.
—Majd Al-Waheidi, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
The former switches from a full-time to a part-time role next year.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Positional switches in the second half paid dividends for Andover in the second half, mostly dominating possession over the last two frames.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
Hoping to teach Arj a lesson about coming to terms with his own life, the well-meaning but naive Gabriel swaps Arj's life with that of Jeff's (Seth Rogen), a wealthy venture capitalist living large in a ritzy home high above the hills.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Gabriel swaps Arj and Jeff’s circumstances to show him that money alone won’t solve all his problems.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That goes for Jimmy Kimmel and for anybody who flaps their gums for a living.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
To clean your garbage disposal, Lane suggests starting by cleaning the rubber flaps by using dish soap and a brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the rubber flaps that line the disposal.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Target’s sale has discounts on thousands of storage furniture pieces, like this soft and roomy fleece bench with a lift-top and this cabinet that discreetly hides and deodorizes trash cans.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The haziness of the energy balance hides this brief imbalance, which allows the virtual particles to influence the real world.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This quilt’s buffalo plaid front reverses to windowpane plaid on the back, and its monochrome colors can blend with every color scheme.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But Stanton and Ansari also held out for a funding plan that reverses GOP legislation that is expected to begin cutting access to Medicaid services in 2027, and want to avert the loss of insurance subsidies for lower-income Americans starting in January.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
When asked the question, the owl takes the lollipop and licks it three times before chomping down on its hard shell exterior and handing the stick back to the child.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The results could help scientists plan future Mars missions by accounting for the troublesome dust that coats rover solar panels and whips across landing sites during descent, the researchers say.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
My focus was always trying to bring the kind of complexities of the kink world to the screen…trying to find the warmth in that community rather than be like Prince Albert, whips, chains, and gags.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The 1984 season is an homage to slasher flicks from the age of Aqua Net, the films that attracted mainstream mass audiences to the genre with shock and awe.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Once again Hallmark is ushering us into cozy season with a lineup of brand-new Fall Into Love flicks, including one that has gone to the birds.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ridley Scott, a filmmaker not known for pulling his punches, has issued a withering assessment on the health of Hollywood output right now.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The matches are pretty violent, with nasty punches to the face and vicious knees to the head.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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