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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of switching
State and federal policymakers should cooperate to roll back pervasive and excessive occupational-licensing restrictions, which make switching jobs or upskilling needlessly difficult.
—
Editorial, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
All the bullpen chaos and the name-switching and injuries and only one off day really in this whole stretch … the starters getting deep into games is what really sets that up to be possible to happen, in my eyes.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Under normal circumstances, businesses grow by hiring, and workers get ahead by switching roles.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Jafa has since expanded his practice into more film, installation, large-scale sculpture, and found photography, constantly switching up his style.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Lapray and cofounder Bram De Cleen were inspired to develop a new skate sneaker after noticing that their peers would often wear shoes only to skateboard in before switching into something more comfortable or stylish.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
For one, switching from sheep grazing to the more passive business of leasing land would have put the fate of his income in the hands of an outsider.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Some farmers are switching to growing cheaper crops that require less or no fertilizer and scaling back on growing corn, sesame and other rain-fed crops.
—ABC News, 7 May 2026
Bake for 30 to 35 mins, switching the positions of the trays about halfway through, until the knots are puffed up and golden.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 2 May 2026
Editorial, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
All the bullpen chaos and the name-switching and injuries and only one off day really in this whole stretch … the starters getting deep into games is what really sets that up to be possible to happen, in my eyes.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Under normal circumstances, businesses grow by hiring, and workers get ahead by switching roles.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Jafa has since expanded his practice into more film, installation, large-scale sculpture, and found photography, constantly switching up his style.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Lapray and cofounder Bram De Cleen were inspired to develop a new skate sneaker after noticing that their peers would often wear shoes only to skateboard in before switching into something more comfortable or stylish.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
For one, switching from sheep grazing to the more passive business of leasing land would have put the fate of his income in the hands of an outsider.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Some farmers are switching to growing cheaper crops that require less or no fertilizer and scaling back on growing corn, sesame and other rain-fed crops.
—ABC News, 7 May 2026
Bake for 30 to 35 mins, switching the positions of the trays about halfway through, until the knots are puffed up and golden.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switching
Verb
-
Hayes sat down with the Summit’s owners and reconnected with former fellow WSL manager Nick Cushing, a reunion that naturally turned into a jersey-swapping photo op.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
In South America, swapping stickers is even more important than simply collecting them, with WhatsApp groups, apps and websites popping up to facilitate the trades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
This could be the bookworm equivalent of jet setting, perhaps—seeking out the places we’re taken to while flicking the pages.—
Connor Sturges,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Talley was found hiding under a porch and arrested for the second time that day.—
Michael Tobin,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
One of the United States’ largest fisheries is hiding in plain sight.—
Matthew Robertson,
The Conversation,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
EquityProtect reports that reversing a fraudulent title costs victims up to $150,000 in legal fees.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
-
Regardless of which party controls Congress, the first priority should be reversing the damage from extreme progressive policies, restoring trust through accountability and returning to common sense for American families.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
But host Kristen Kish is licking her lips at the prospect of taking the show even further afield in the future.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
-
At the film’s start, Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs is now an award-winning journalist, licking her wounds from a recent layoff.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Inspired by their connection, Étienne contemplates exchanging his lonely existence for one filled with romance, but with a demanding route to cover, starring in a great love story may not be in the cards for the hard-working road warrior.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
The Andes virus is a rare variant that can be passed from person to person through significant and intimate close contact such as sharing a bed for an extended period of time or exchanging saliva.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
And that jockey was flapping and flapping about the top of his horse, lookin’ like a chicken—elbows jumping this way an’ that, but the horse was spent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Smaller birds darted around, their small wings flapping rapidly.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It was delivered by the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, whose torso uncorked in a fit of frustration that sent his right elbow whipping toward Reid’s windpipe like a torpedo bat flying through the strike zone.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
That abundance of tall buildings also contributes to the city’s famous wind, which was really whipping all four days of our visit.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switching. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
