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
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
Beyond the impressive construction, the pitcher is designed with Tupperware’s signature smart push-button lid that switches from closed to pour-ready with the touch of a finger.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, citing prosecutors, the accused's face can be seen in a two-minute and 16-second video captured on a cell phone, in which the camera switches from the front-facing view to the rear camera.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
The bed was comfortable, the light switches user-friendly.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Carolyn switches her nail color from a bold red to a blander shade; John hobbles out of his George magazine office wearing a cast on his left ankle due to a paragliding accident.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
Smith switches mood brilliantly and sometimes thrillingly between them.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
The death rocks Lilian, an American who switches effortlessly between French and English, and has lived in France long enough to have married there, had a son, divorced and become a grandmother.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Instead of direct water exposure, the robot switches to a gentler mechanical process.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
In many episodes, Goggins switches between playing the Ghoul (in the present) and Cooper (in flashbacks).
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
High-touch surfaces such as faucets, toilet handles, light switches, and cabinet pulls can quickly become germ-ridden during winter.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
That attention to detail can be found in nearly every nook and cranny of these custom 911 restomods, including interior buttons and switches that transform most touch points from plastic to aluminum.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2026
As Officers Gonzalez and Rodriguez approach the BMW, the CCTV footage switches to another angle that shows Zass emerging from his car with the weapon in his hand.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Warship switches to high-power radar during aircraft encounter The footage shows the Yanan’s crew moving quickly as potential aircraft are spotted approaching the warship.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Porter and Murray hunted each other on switches throughout the game.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Failure to flip either one of these switches will result in an inability to start up your snow blower.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
Once all the air pollution goes to zilch in half an hour, the Airmega automatically switches into eco mode.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
Beyond the impressive construction, the pitcher is designed with Tupperware’s signature smart push-button lid that switches from closed to pour-ready with the touch of a finger.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, citing prosecutors, the accused's face can be seen in a two-minute and 16-second video captured on a cell phone, in which the camera switches from the front-facing view to the rear camera.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
The bed was comfortable, the light switches user-friendly.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Carolyn switches her nail color from a bold red to a blander shade; John hobbles out of his George magazine office wearing a cast on his left ankle due to a paragliding accident.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
Smith switches mood brilliantly and sometimes thrillingly between them.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
The death rocks Lilian, an American who switches effortlessly between French and English, and has lived in France long enough to have married there, had a son, divorced and become a grandmother.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Instead of direct water exposure, the robot switches to a gentler mechanical process.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
Schrader suggests wiping down cabinetry knobs or pulls, light switches, and doorknobs at least once a month to make your home more sanitary.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
In many episodes, Goggins switches between playing the Ghoul (in the present) and Cooper (in flashbacks).
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
High-touch surfaces such as faucets, toilet handles, light switches, and cabinet pulls can quickly become germ-ridden during winter.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
That attention to detail can be found in nearly every nook and cranny of these custom 911 restomods, including interior buttons and switches that transform most touch points from plastic to aluminum.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2026
As Officers Gonzalez and Rodriguez approach the BMW, the CCTV footage switches to another angle that shows Zass emerging from his car with the weapon in his hand.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Warship switches to high-power radar during aircraft encounter The footage shows the Yanan’s crew moving quickly as potential aircraft are spotted approaching the warship.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Porter and Murray hunted each other on switches throughout the game.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Failure to flip either one of these switches will result in an inability to start up your snow blower.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
Coined by nail artist Betina Goldstein, the micro-French style swaps a large swath of white for a barely-there flash of paint across the free edge of the nail.—
Laura Solla,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Most soccer-forward of the footwear assortment is their Samba, which swaps out the Three Stripes motif for Bape’s star logo.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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,
4 Feb. 2026
-
New features like active aero (flaps that open on the front and rear wings) help forge a much closer relationship between the engine and the chassis around it.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s why scrolling by date and scrubbing through videos still works — search hides uncertainty, scrolling shows everything.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The one is Sohni Ammi, her feisty mother-in-law, whose sharp tongue hides a big heart, while the other is Bholi, a quiet and wise neighbor.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … WAKE-UP CALL — New York Times reverses course on marijuana safety as daily users surge to 18 million.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Smart Invert reverses the colors of the display except for images, media and some apps that use dark color styles.—
Jim Rossman,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 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
-
Athena whips votes; Myki doesn’t bother.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Some white parents beat their children with the same whips the apartheid police used in Black neighborhoods.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bliss, chefs say, especially if your flicks are related to love stories.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Little bursts of dub delay flare without warning, kicking up dust devils; every now and then, the telltale sweep of the pitch-bend wheel flicks upward like a fast-rising tide and then, after a minute or two, falls back into place.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Only invite friends and relatives who are willing to discuss Bill Belichick and Tom Brady without punches being thrown.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
From that moment forward, the two Bay State Conference foes traded punches throughout, exchanging one run after the next.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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