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
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 May 2026
This 2-gallon watering can pulls double duty with a removable stainless steel shower head that switches between a gentle sprinkle for delicate plants and a steady stream for thirstier ones.
—Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Here, in the 3-2 win against Fulham on February 1, Fernandes is in a central position as Lisandro Martinez switches the ball to Amad on the United right.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Long-term stability Nickel-titanium is a shape-memory alloy that switches between two crystal structures to transfer heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Near the end of this complex six-hundred-page book, Yamashita switches to a collective pronoun, suggesting that a common dream has connected her characters.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Further experiments indicated that the flagellar motor also switches direction.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Marcos Sanoja, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
In simpler terms, those receptors act like biological switches.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
Neither their dual for the lead nor their fight over second place after Norris swept to the lead, featured any contact among the several position switches.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
Data released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in response to a freedom of information request, shows that the fuel switches to both engines were shut off simultaneously before the Boeing 737-800 jet dropped out of the sky.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
The analyst views Marvell as a major beneficiary of the Amazon-Anthropic agreement, given that the company supplies Trainium application-specific integrated circuits, Ethernet switches, data processing units, and optical digital signal processors to AWS.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 3 May 2026
Every chat with Claude or GPT runs on the same underlying machinery that calculates spreadsheet totals and renders video games—silicon wafers etched with billions of microscopic switches, organized into specialized processors.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Burick and one of his students assemble the base for one of ENIAC’s three portable function tables, which contained banks of switches that stored numerical constants.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
For example, wiping down light switches, dusting baseboards, or eliminating scuffs on walls can instantly make your home look refreshed.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
The action switches between Mission Control and the lunar surface as the race against time builds.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 May 2026
This 2-gallon watering can pulls double duty with a removable stainless steel shower head that switches between a gentle sprinkle for delicate plants and a steady stream for thirstier ones.
—Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Here, in the 3-2 win against Fulham on February 1, Fernandes is in a central position as Lisandro Martinez switches the ball to Amad on the United right.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Long-term stability Nickel-titanium is a shape-memory alloy that switches between two crystal structures to transfer heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Near the end of this complex six-hundred-page book, Yamashita switches to a collective pronoun, suggesting that a common dream has connected her characters.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Further experiments indicated that the flagellar motor also switches direction.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
The wild switches that follow feel like jumping between the bathroom and the dancefloor.
—Marcos Sanoja, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
In simpler terms, those receptors act like biological switches.
—Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
Neither their dual for the lead nor their fight over second place after Norris swept to the lead, featured any contact among the several position switches.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
Data released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in response to a freedom of information request, shows that the fuel switches to both engines were shut off simultaneously before the Boeing 737-800 jet dropped out of the sky.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
The analyst views Marvell as a major beneficiary of the Amazon-Anthropic agreement, given that the company supplies Trainium application-specific integrated circuits, Ethernet switches, data processing units, and optical digital signal processors to AWS.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 3 May 2026
Every chat with Claude or GPT runs on the same underlying machinery that calculates spreadsheet totals and renders video games—silicon wafers etched with billions of microscopic switches, organized into specialized processors.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Burick and one of his students assemble the base for one of ENIAC’s three portable function tables, which contained banks of switches that stored numerical constants.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
For example, wiping down light switches, dusting baseboards, or eliminating scuffs on walls can instantly make your home look refreshed.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
Tom Holland swaps his padel for a HexClad pan while hosting his 2nd Annual Bero Padel Classic on April 29 in Los Angeles.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
-
The Philips 1000 Series Touchscreen Key-free Electronic Deadbolt swaps a standard deadbolt with no wiring required.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
22 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
-
Two-year-old Mala Audio Bar sets its cocktails to the crackle of vintage vinyl, while Konbini hides behind a grocery storefront, opening into a Colombian-Japanese speakeasy where disco and highballs collide amid a beautiful crowd.—
Allie Lazar,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
-
More than 2,500 shoppers have given it a perfect rating, and reviewers appreciate that the lightweight formula hides dark circles — without settling into fine lines.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Atlas then reverses direction, extending its legs backward into a sustained L-sit position, holding the posture steadily for several seconds.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
-
As the employee revolt builds, Google’s management reverses course and opts not to renew the lucrative military relationship.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
While Deborah licks her wounds from bombing very, very hard, the Frank interview plays.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Willow whips, vines and shorter branches will not be picked up during brush collection.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
But following elite competition is nearly impossible, with subtle flicks and jabs practically invisible to the naked eye—and competitors hidden behind masks.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Why aren't there more flicks where the entire premise involves someone trying to escape the seemingly inescapable?—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
However, there’s usually an honor code with that – nothing else but punches and giving the fight crowd a show.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Reigns hit a pair of Superman punches, but Fatu hit a kick.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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