SWITCHING Synonyms: 174 Similar and Opposite Words

switching

verb

present participle of switch

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

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

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as in hiding

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible switched the stagecoach horses to control the direction they took

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as in reversing

to change (as an opinion) to the contrary a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in licking

to strike repeatedly the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm

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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 Over the years, those aforementioned adjustments included making spaghetti bolognese for Harry while his mother enjoyed Sole Florentine, and, sometimes, switching up the menu completely when a friend joined them for lunch at Kensington Palace. —

Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026 Meanwhile, in a rare but spot-on appearance, newcomer Kam Patterson appeared as Paapa Essiedu’s code-switching Professor Snape in HBO’s new Harry Potter TV reboot. —

Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026 Given the rapid quantum progress, physicists say that switching out RSA and ECC for new cryptographic schemes that quantum computers can’t break is essential. —

Quanta Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026 Election officials say switching to a new system within just a few months, as advocated by some Republicans, would be nearly impossible. —

ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026 Tom Williams/Getty Images Election officials say switching to a new system within just a few months, as advocated by some Republicans, would be nearly impossible. —

CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 After switching to drums in his brother’s band, Gadson found work as a backing drummer for artists touring through Kansas City. —

Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026 After serving in the Air Force, Gadson played keyboards and sang in his brother’s band, before eventually switching to the drums. —

Walden Green, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026 Consider switching grass types. —

David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for switching

Verb

Many parodied her overt sexuality by swapping her out for someone decidedly less sexy on the wrecking ball.

— Ben Pettis, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Many are even swapping their profile photos for pictures of Jenner, hoping some of her famously sharp business instincts might rub off.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026