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
Shipping itself is efficient per ton-mile and still accounts for roughly 3 percent of global CO₂; switching from a very long ocean journey to a medium-range truck haul can be a wash for that reason.
—
Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Social Security checks under different measures Yet the data suggests that switching to a different COLA measure might not result in the substantial boost to benefits that retirees and other beneficiaries hope to see.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, the red Merry Apron hot and iced cups symbolize the seasonal shift that baristas make in switching to red aprons for the end of the year.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Sometimes, scammers will claim that Medicare is switching to a card with a chip in it.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Bloomberg grew up in Massachusetts as a rival Boston Red Sox fan before switching to the Yankees as mayor.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
In her version, DaCosta flips the classic on its head by gender-switching Gabler’s ex-lover, Eilert into Eileen.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Picture objects levitating or twitching without external interference—or switching rooms.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Customs and Border Protection, the branch of DHS it is housed within, did not respond to a request for comment from NPR asking about their practice of switching license plates.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Social Security checks under different measures Yet the data suggests that switching to a different COLA measure might not result in the substantial boost to benefits that retirees and other beneficiaries hope to see.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, the red Merry Apron hot and iced cups symbolize the seasonal shift that baristas make in switching to red aprons for the end of the year.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Sometimes, scammers will claim that Medicare is switching to a card with a chip in it.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Bloomberg grew up in Massachusetts as a rival Boston Red Sox fan before switching to the Yankees as mayor.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
In her version, DaCosta flips the classic on its head by gender-switching Gabler’s ex-lover, Eilert into Eileen.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
Picture objects levitating or twitching without external interference—or switching rooms.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Customs and Border Protection, the branch of DHS it is housed within, did not respond to a request for comment from NPR asking about their practice of switching license plates.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switching
Verb
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Houck underlined that swapping Princeton’s components into Google’s best quantum processor would enable it to work 1,000 times better.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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That could include reducing the amount of alfalfa and other hay crops used to feed livestock, or swapping out wheat and sorghum and instead planting corn and potatoes.—
Huma Tariq Malik,
The Conversation,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Freddie Freeman won an eight-pitch tussle with Gausman by flicking a two-out double into the right-field corner.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
While a wagging dog’s tail might indicate excitement or friendliness, a flicking cat’s tail can signal irritation.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But soon, an intruder introduces both suspicion and hope for connection, as loneliness battles with the fear that something considerably larger than a virus is hiding in the dark.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Under the Biden administration (2021-2025), denial rates fell to about 4 percent in FY 2021 and roughly 2 percent by FY 2024, reversing the earlier surge.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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The number of Chinese students enrolled at US universities has fallen by more than 25% from its peak in the 2019-2020 school year, and reversing that trend will take more than just scrapping an export control backlist.—
Gina Chon,
semafor.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Others, like Ava Louise, do it through viral media stunts, like flashing the New York-Dublin Portal or licking a toilet seat in the beginning of the Covid pandemic.—
Taylor Lorenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
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Collins is no doubt licking his chops studying tape of another Patriots rookie, left guard Jared Wilson, who allowed two sacks last weekend.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After exchanging zeros, All-Star catcher Will Smith pounded a solo home run with two outs in the 11th inning.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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Take William Shakespeare, who is often portrayed as a carouser, downing pints while exchanging barbs with his fellow writers, cheating on his wife with both men and women, passionately engaging his quill to reimagine the very nature of the human being.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the clip, Lecaillier cuts, tapes and shapes her materials until a wonderfully bonkers ostrich begins to take form — complete with flapping wings and a bobbing neck made from little more than determination and a sense of humor.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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But its appeal can’t be divorced from the romance of its history, which properly began in the 19th century when English polo players began wearing oxford shirts as their preferred uniform, complete with collars that buttoned against the body to prevent their points from flapping in the wind.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Strong, whipping winds are expected to continue across Jamaica throughout the night.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
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The photo of Chastain whipping off her jersey, shouting in triumph, her sinewy arms flexed, was immediately historic.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Switching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switching. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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