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
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
When using a device like an iPhone, a child switches tasks every 65 seconds on average, training their brains to expect constant novelty.
—
Kira Willey,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Nakase switches it up The Valkyries desperately needed a spark after such a sluggish first half.
—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
Over the summer, Lawrence, like other college cities, switches from the liveliness of young students to the day-to-day of residents who have made a life there.
—
Pj Green
june 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
After entering the ring, Apollo switches into an Uncle Sam costume.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
The book switches between fonts, is interrupted with text boxes holding seemingly random information, is loaded down with footnotes, and includes paragraphs and columns of text that are upside down, reversed, or running vertically across the page.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
This coral manicure switches up its style with every nail.
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
Alejo switches back to speakerphone and stays silent, copying the numbers Elizabeth is asking for from Flores’ enrollment paperwork in big block letters so Flores can read them aloud.
—
Megan Greenwell,
Bloomberg,
9 June 2026
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The nanometer, an atomic-scale unit of measurement, doesn't refer to the literal size of chips or their components, but to how densely transistors -- the tiny electronic switches that make up processors -- can be packed together.
—
CBS News,
25 June 2026
When a sports team or federation switches licensing partners, there’s typically a sell-through period that allows the prior partner to move unsold inventory amid the transition.
—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
24 June 2026
Rather abruptly, the location changes and the mood switches to darkness in another part of the planet as key villain Krem (who seems to use the same stylist as Pinhead and is played by Matthias Schoenaerts) arrives and murders the parents of 13-year-old Ruthye (Eve Ridley).
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Those bits are oriented as either ones or zeroes, indicating on/off switches that make up the basic inputs of any task performed by a computer.
—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
If your phone switches to SOS mode, loses service or stops receiving calls and texts, contact your carrier right away.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Then the driver has to look down, and [there are] 15 similar looking switches.
—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
The team used atom-level quantum mechanical calculations to identify the scaling limits of transistors, the tiny switches that control the flow of electricity in electronic devices.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
The study points to a protein called HDAC3, which switches certain genes on and off to keep the lining sturdy.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
When using a device like an iPhone, a child switches tasks every 65 seconds on average, training their brains to expect constant novelty.
—
Kira Willey,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Nakase switches it up The Valkyries desperately needed a spark after such a sluggish first half.
—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
Over the summer, Lawrence, like other college cities, switches from the liveliness of young students to the day-to-day of residents who have made a life there.
—
Pj Green
june 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
After entering the ring, Apollo switches into an Uncle Sam costume.
—
ABC News,
13 June 2026
The book switches between fonts, is interrupted with text boxes holding seemingly random information, is loaded down with footnotes, and includes paragraphs and columns of text that are upside down, reversed, or running vertically across the page.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
This coral manicure switches up its style with every nail.
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
Alejo switches back to speakerphone and stays silent, copying the numbers Elizabeth is asking for from Flores’ enrollment paperwork in big block letters so Flores can read them aloud.
—
Megan Greenwell,
Bloomberg,
9 June 2026
Noun
At least 28 states, including California and Indiana, have prohibited the ownership and use of Glock switches in specific laws, according to a count by Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun control organization.
—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The nanometer, an atomic-scale unit of measurement, doesn't refer to the literal size of chips or their components, but to how densely transistors -- the tiny electronic switches that make up processors -- can be packed together.
—
CBS News,
25 June 2026
When a sports team or federation switches licensing partners, there’s typically a sell-through period that allows the prior partner to move unsold inventory amid the transition.
—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
24 June 2026
Rather abruptly, the location changes and the mood switches to darkness in another part of the planet as key villain Krem (who seems to use the same stylist as Pinhead and is played by Matthias Schoenaerts) arrives and murders the parents of 13-year-old Ruthye (Eve Ridley).
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Those bits are oriented as either ones or zeroes, indicating on/off switches that make up the basic inputs of any task performed by a computer.
—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
If your phone switches to SOS mode, loses service or stops receiving calls and texts, contact your carrier right away.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Then the driver has to look down, and [there are] 15 similar looking switches.
—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
18 June 2026
The team used atom-level quantum mechanical calculations to identify the scaling limits of transistors, the tiny switches that control the flow of electricity in electronic devices.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
In the new Prime Video series, Lexi Minetree plays the iconic character, who must adapt to a new high school as her family swaps Bel-Air for dreary Seattle.
-
This summery twist on the decadent Italian dessert swaps out espresso and marsala for homemade berry syrup and fruit liqueur.
Verb
-
The music is loose and spacious, billowing like fabric that flaps at the slightest breeze.
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.
Verb
-
Also in Scorsese’s film, Cady’s crimes are so galling that Sam, Cady’s defense lawyer, breaks his own oath to his client and hides evidence that might have helped get Cady off (a change from MacDonald’s novel).
-
Drama hides a hero’s flaws; comedy exaggerates it.
Verb
-
And while these projects will be mixed-income, research has repeatedly shown that building new market-rate housing slows and even reverses rent growth while preventing displacement in low-income neighborhoods.
-
The knob controls volume and can be clicked to pause and resume content (double- or triple-clicking skips and reverses songs, respectively).
Verb
-
Food stands also debuted that year, with ribs sizzling along with the blues licks.
-
At one point in a dinner scene, Shields' Erika licks Joey's fingers.
Noun
-
During enslavement, physical violence, such as being beaten with whips, was used to control Black bodies.
-
In our study, leadership included the speaker, party leaders, whips, caucus or conference chairs, and committee chairs or ranking members.
Noun
-
Yamal’s flicks and tricks in his 45-minute appearance were almost enough to make memories for life, while Oyarzabal should have completed his hat-trick (both players would be substituted at the break).
-
The centre-back scored six goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances on loan at Hamburg last season, including towering headers and clever backheel flicks.
Noun
-
The Los Angeles singer-songwriter’s latest is a crisp and candid twee pop record with unexpected studio touches and gut punches.
-
No such punches could be seen on the video.
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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