Synonyms of switches

switches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of switch

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

• swaps
• exchanges
• substitutes
• trades
• changes
• shifts
• replaces
• commutes
• interchanges
• supersedes
• displaces
• yields
• reciprocates
• cedes
• surrenders
• hands over

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

• flaps
• flicks
• swings
• waggles
• swishes
• jerks
• twitches
• bobs
• wags
• waves
• oscillates
• sways
• flutters
• rocks
• flickers
• shakes
• wavers
• flops
• whips
• flails
• lashes
• wiggles
• jolts
• nods
• jiggles
• beats
• jogs
• joggles
• jigs

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

• hides
• whips
• flicks
• slashes
• hits
• cuts
• slaps
• knocks
• flails
• lashes
• punches
• licks
• flagellates
• flogs
• thrashes
• clips
• spanks
• leathers
• scourges
• swipes
• tans
• bats
• straps
• bangs
• pounds
• boxes
• whales
• smacks
• whacks
• mauls
• birches
• horsewhips
• beats
• claps
• thumps
• cowhides
• quirts
• clubs
• socks
• canes
• swats
• knouts
• paddles
• rawhides
• hammers
• belts
• cracks
• bops
• works over
• bashes
• pelts
• lams
• cuffs
• pastes
• thwacks
• clouts
• touches up
• slugs
• slates
• cudgels
• laces
• buffets
• mangles
• clobbers
• batters
• smites
• bludgeons
• busts
• pummels
• fustigates
• threshes
• wallops
• bastes
• pistol-whips
• lambastes
• belabors
• blackjacks
• lathers
• slogs
• roughs
• fibs
• tromps
• drubs
• pommels
• whups
• bungs
• whops

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

• reverses
• overturns
• revokes
• reverts
• strikes down
• abrogates
• rescinds
• repeals
• backtracks
• annuls
• countermands
• about-faces

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supports
• maintains
• upholds

5

as in licks

to strike repeatedly

the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• licks
• hides
• pounds
• whips
• lashes
• hits
• attacks
• knocks
• beats
• punches
• slaps
• does
• thumps
• slams
• pelts
• smashes
• assaults
• batters
• bats
• boxes
• paddles
• spanks
• hammers
• belts
• works over
• bashes
• raids
• chops
• clubs
• mauls
• swipes
• slates
• curries
• buffets
• laces
• flogs
• punches out
• thrashes
• bludgeons
• smacks
• pummels
• threshes
• whacks
• bastes
• drubs
• tans
• lambastes
• wallops
• belabors
• storms
• lathers
• beats up on
• slogs
• tromps
• fibs
• rushes
• whales
• roughs (up)
• pommels
• messes (up)
• straps
• socks
• cracks
• descends (on or upon)
• birches
• wounds
• whups
• jumps (on)
• bungs up
• swats
• whops
• pastes
• lays on
• whams
• lams
• thwacks
• cuffs
• clouts
• clobbers
• assails
• flagellates
• besets
• busts
• lacerates
• canes
• whomps
• pounces (on or upon)
• cudgels
• leathers
• scourges
• pistol-whips
• gores
• fustigates
• mangles
• mutilates
• horsewhips
• maims
• blackjacks
• cowhides
• rawhides

switches

2 of 2

noun

plural of switch

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

• whips
• straps
• canes
• batons
• floggers
• lashes
• bats
• crops
• scourges
• knouts
• quirts
• birches
• hickories
• rattans
• flails
• bullwhips
• billy clubs
• blacksnakes
• staffs
• cat-o'-nine-tails
• bludgeons
• billies
• bastinadoes
• nightsticks
• cudgels
• clubs
• rawhides
• cowhides

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

• flaps
• flicks
• whisks
• twitches
• wags
• swings
• shakes
• waves
• wiggles
• waggles
• flutters
• nods
• rocks
• jerks
• whips
• oscillations
• swishes
• wavers
• jolts
• snaps
• sways
• bobs
• jiggles

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

• punches
• swipes
• blows
• thumps
• hits
• slaps
• thuds
• knocks
• strokes
• pounds
• whacks
• pokes
• licks
• spanks
• smacks
• hooks
• clips
• slams
• beats
• bangs
• claps
• belts
• kicks
• socks
• hacks
• fillips
• boxes
• chops
• stripes
• swats
• lashes
• cuffs
• bats
• raps
• bops
• buffets
• hands
• pelts
• whams
• picks
• biffs
• swings
• smashes
• bashes
• slugs
• thwacks
• haymakers
• douses
• clouts
• stingers
• dabs
• welts
• lickings
• cracks
• knees
• whops
• plumps
• busts
• counters
• larrups
• wallops
• counterstrokes
• counterblows
• beatings
• body blows
• counterpunches
• sucker punches
• shivers
• rabbit punches
• whips
• lefts
• roundhouses
• rights
• uppercuts
• knockdowns
• KOs
• sidewinders
• knockouts
• right-handers
• batterings
• whippings
• bastinadoes
• crunchers
• pastings
• thrashings
• drubbings
• wallopings
• kayos
• one-twos

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of switches

Verb

These regions, called domains, can interact as the device switches between states. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Relative harms vary significantly when talking about a current tobacco smoker who switches to an e-cigarette compared with a nonsmoker who starts vaping. — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026

The scene switches to a beautiful cliffside mansion overlooking the ocean. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026

And since the vessel switches up its path based on the seasons and conditions at sea, passengers will see different astounding sights throughout the year. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

The key is in the flexible headband, which twists and automatically switches the Neo from headphone to speaker mode – and back. — New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026

Like Hall-effect switches, tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) switches use magnets, but TMR keyboard PCBs use a different type of sensor. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

Starting Tuesday, all this becomes Wall Street official when PSKY switches to SKYD on the ticker. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

The broadcast then switches to what appears to be an MTV News update from Kurt Loder about search-and-rescue teams in Canada. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Noun

Part of this problem is that the crews have to deal with a bewildering array of buttons, switches, and other physical controls. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Next, save 41% on the Razer Huntsman Mini Gaming Keyboard, and get cutting-edge optical switches and a streamlined 60% form factor. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Worse, the fragmentation of DNA in the ancient samples gives an imperfect record of which of those regulatory switches are to be flipped which way. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Oct. 2026

The architecture uses electronic switches and control systems to change how battery cells are connected during operation. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Other key elements include roll-in showers with grab bars and handheld shower wands; raised toilet seats with grab bars; lowered light switches, thermostats, and mirrors; and wheelchair-accessible bathroom sinks. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

That was clear as the Bulls bled from the point of attack, allowing blow-by drives and suffering on switches as a result. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

In 272 of Jonathan’s genes, many tied to the cells’ power-generating mitochondria, the switches’ chemical tags stayed as orderly as in a youngster. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026

If longevity is a priority, contactless switches may still be worth considering, but be sure to compare their ratings with those of standard switches. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026