thrash

Definition of thrashnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word thrash distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of thrash are brandish, flourish, swing, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

When can brandish be used instead of thrash?

While the synonyms brandish and thrash are close in meaning, brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

When would flourish be a good substitute for thrash?

The words flourish and thrash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

When might swing be a better fit than thrash?

Although the words swing and thrash have much in common, swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

Where would wave be a reasonable alternative to thrash?

In some situations, the words wave and thrash are roughly equivalent. However, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

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 thrash The Sharks were hoping to bounce back from their most lopsided loss of the season, a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2025 Germany clinched its spot in the World Cup by thrashing Slovakia 6-0. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 2025 The 16-year-old flails her arms, thrashes and kicks — sometimes for hours. Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025 However, if the prey was stuck in the web and struggling (thrashing about), the stabilimenta successfully transmitted the alarm to a wider area of the web. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thrash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrash
Verb
  • Given one final chance to tie, Mazzulla sent Gonzalez back in as a late sub, and the 19-year-old buried one from the left corner to force a second OT.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Tourists are urged to lock up their food and trash, and anglers instructed to bury any bait that may attract scavengers.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Even then, though, leadership didn’t whip against the bill, which ultimately passed with seven Democrats voting in favor.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
  • In an age when polarized politics have whipped extremists into a frenzy and disagreeing with someone’s views justifies physical assault among fringe elements, the assault on Omar is a new abysmal milestone of societal degradation.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
  • England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.
    Sam Dalling, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Someone off camera then tossed him that actual T-shirt.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Failing to get a criminal conviction tossed and again complaining about the conditions at Rikers Island, Weinstein wants to begin negotiations with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s office ahead of his upcoming trial, his lawyer said during a hearing Thursday.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Sure, some out there were robbing old people, choking people, robbing them, beating them up, taking their money, but Troy just wasn’t like that.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and the New York Knicks dominated the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 103-87 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Los Angeles Police Department won't enforce a California directive banning federal immigration agents from wearing masks or hiding their faces while conducting operations in the state.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • During the prohibition era, the cave used trap doors and movable brick walls to hide liquor from law enforcement.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor took to social media Thursday to lash out at bystanders who record police encounters and critics of law enforcement, following a violent Wednesday crime spree that ended with a suspect dead and a police officer wounded.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • But the evidence suggests that people who rely on bursts of venting tend to stay angrier for longer, and are more likely to lash out aggressively.
    Will Barker, TheWeek, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The bonito’s body twitched until Yamasaki slid a thin metal wire down the column of its spinal cord, a second step called shinkei jime, which arrests its nervous system.
    Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 15 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Thrash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrash. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on thrash

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