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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This mismatch between perception and reality has real consequences, fueling the notion that higher education as a whole is elitist and out of touch, hiding the work of the colleges that educate millions of working- and middle-class families.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Then keep scrolling to shop more of the best pieces hiding in Pottery Barn’s outlet now.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That clinched the season series for the Rams, reversing a trend in which the 49ers swept the regular-season matchups from 2019-22.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
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Pack credited her courage in reversing the company’s past decisions.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The sketch concluded with the librarian licking Moynihan's face with a forked tongue and then unbuttoning her blouse — causing all of the boys' heads to explode.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
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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
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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While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
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Gauzy curtains that have blown into a tree are flapping in the wind.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The windproof and thermal wool blend fabric is the perfect shell to protect you on the many fall days in Paris, as the whipping wind adds an unexpected cool factor while strolling around town.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
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Strong, whipping winds are expected to continue across Jamaica throughout the night.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Switching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switching. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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