1
as in swapping
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 flicking
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 hiding
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 reversing
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 licking
to strike repeatedly
the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of switching
Later switching to the Chicago Sports Network, King became beloved as a studio analyst.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Yung-Shin Kung said that CTAs had captured the rally in precious metals, primarily silver and gold, at the beginning of the year, before switching to industrial metals that are poised to benefit from AI infrastructure investment and supply constraints caused by the Iran war.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 5 June 2026
The four play an important role in finding the attackers’ runs behind the defence and switching the play from one side to the other.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026
One of the show’s most radical changes from Broadway is switching the genders of a few characters from male to female.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 4 June 2026
Why are people leaving Google, switching search engines?
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Yes, this was the season with the (first) twin twist as sisters Adria and Natalie took turns playing as one person (switching in and out in the Diary Room).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
For example, switching from coal to bioenergy cuts electricity’s carbon footprint by 70%—but increases its water footprint more than 30-fold and its land footprint 100-fold.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 3 June 2026
Thomas and Immenschuh believe in continuously switching up the merchandise so returning customers always have something new to find and to attract new shoppers.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Yung-Shin Kung said that CTAs had captured the rally in precious metals, primarily silver and gold, at the beginning of the year, before switching to industrial metals that are poised to benefit from AI infrastructure investment and supply constraints caused by the Iran war.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 5 June 2026
The four play an important role in finding the attackers’ runs behind the defence and switching the play from one side to the other.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026
One of the show’s most radical changes from Broadway is switching the genders of a few characters from male to female.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 4 June 2026
Why are people leaving Google, switching search engines?
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Yes, this was the season with the (first) twin twist as sisters Adria and Natalie took turns playing as one person (switching in and out in the Diary Room).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
For example, switching from coal to bioenergy cuts electricity’s carbon footprint by 70%—but increases its water footprint more than 30-fold and its land footprint 100-fold.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 3 June 2026
Thomas and Immenschuh believe in continuously switching up the merchandise so returning customers always have something new to find and to attract new shoppers.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switching
Verb
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China’s largest battery maker CATL has unveiled a new battery pack architecture that allows sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries to be used inside the same enclosure, a move aimed at accelerating sodium-ion deployment in electric vehicles, battery-swapping networks, and energy storage systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
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During the final week of school in May, students in the San Dieguito Union High School District turned in their Chromebooks for the summer, hopefully swapping their screens for sunshine, beach days and relaxation.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Kamara found it a couple of hours before kick-off when flicking through a copy of the matchday programme.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
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The dragons stalk the island, flicking their huge tongues in hopes of picking up the scent of a deer, wild boar, or water buffalo — the latter two species introduced by humans — or rodents and other smaller reptiles, including baby Komodo dragons.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The woman’s daughter showed investigators video footage showing Robinson rifling through the woman’s drawers, selecting items and hiding them on her body.—
Kairi Lowery,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2026
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Eggs or young cockroaches may be hiding in them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Washington can play at least a small role in reversing negative health trends by providing services to those who may otherwise be unable to afford and access health care or food.—
Sam Raus,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
-
Four years later, an overwhelming majority of California voters approved Proposition 36, reversing a 2014 change that had commuted some nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Even small exposures—such as licking pollen off fur or drinking water from a vase containing lilies—can be toxic.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
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Vietnamese-style sweet-and-spicy chicken wings are a hot, finger-licking mess.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The apparent loss of the aircraft came after hostilities in the region escalated over the weekend, with Iran and Israel exchanging their first direct strikes in months late Sunday.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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An armed intruder was shot and killed after exchanging gunfire with a homeowner, authorities said.—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The slot formerly occupied by a performance from the Commodores will now be filled with the sound of a lone Gadsden flag flapping on its pole.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
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The fathers, faces ruddy, prayed in Latin for her soul, black robes flapping in the wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The Seahawks won those shootouts, but that was mostly due to their special teams whipping the Rams and their offense going off, especially in the Super Bowl qualifier.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
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Throughout the record, the image of Petras’ life in freefall recurs, giving the record a sense of hair-whipping freedom and heart-stopping urgency.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switching. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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