Synonyms of thrash

thrash

verb

ˈthrash 

1

as in to bury

to defeat by a large margin

the incumbent has been thrashing his opponents for so long that there's never any real contest for the Senate seat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bury
• whip
• beat
• overcome
• throw
• bomb
• upset
• smother
• rout
• annihilate
• master
• flatten
• dust
• clobber
• blow away
• trounce
• trim
• cream
• smoke
• skin
• drub
• overwhelm
• take
• paste
• top
• wax
• sweep
• whup
• destroy
• wallop
• score
• whomp
• snow under
• conquer
• surpass
• lick
• dispatch
• succeed
• exceed
• whop
• skunk
• worst
• beat the pants off
• eat alive
• tromp
• shellac
• crush
• best
• run circles around
• slaughter
• better
• subdue
• cap
• wipe the floor with
• finish
• win (against)
• vanquish
• overthrow
• outdo
• subjugate
• triumph (over)
• surmount
• prevail (over)
• overpower
• transcend
• hurdle
• excel
• outstrip
• knock over
• overbear
• eclipse
• outdistance
• outshine
• break
• overtop
• overmatch
• ace (out)
• flourish
• upend
• edge (out)
• knock off
• outfight
• sink
• pip
• nose out
• do in

2

as in to whip

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

thrashed the poor horse with a riding crop

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whip
• hide
• slash
• flick
• spank
• flail
• leather
• lash
• slap
• hit
• switch
• lick
• flog
• knock
• flagellate
• scourge
• cut
• horsewhip
• maul
• punch
• bang
• tan
• whale
• smack
• cowhide
• birch
• bat
• rawhide
• beat
• pound
• whack
• thump
• strap
• swipe
• clip
• clap
• cane
• swat
• quirt
• pummel
• club
• box
• cudgel
• clobber
• smite
• bop
• bludgeon
• knout
• bash
• touch up
• pelt
• slug
• rough
• hammer
• crack
• mangle
• paddle
• thwack
• drub
• sock
• clout
• thresh
• batter
• blackjack
• wallop
• slate
• lambaste
• bung
• cuff
• whup
• buffet
• belt
• work over
• paste
• slog
• bust
• lather
• pistol-whip
• lam
• baste
• lace
• pommel
• whop
• fustigate
• belabor
• tromp
• fib

3

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly

the tree branches thrashed the sides of the house as the storm continued to rage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lick
• lash
• beat
• pound
• whip
• hide
• thump
• attack
• spank
• slap
• smash
• hit
• knock
• assault
• pelt
• do
• batter
• pummel
• slam
• punch
• maul
• bat
• bludgeon
• chop
• bash
• hammer
• club
• drub
• raid
• paddle
• smack
• thresh
• flog
• punch out
• slate
• lambaste
• whup
• curry
• buffet
• work over
• switch
• wallop
• belt
• slog
• tan
• whale
• whack
• storm
• birch
• lather
• box
• rough (up)
• lace
• pommel
• baste
• beat up on
• whop
• swipe
• wound
• tromp
• bung up
• belabor
• fib
• rush
• swat
• clobber
• mess (up)
• crack
• assail
• cudgel
• descend (on or upon)
• thwack
• leather
• strap
• lay on
• clout
• sock
• whomp
• jump (on)
• lacerate
• beset
• flagellate
• paste
• cane
• cuff
• pounce (on or upon)
• scourge
• horsewhip
• gore
• wham
• bust
• lam
• mutilate
• mangle
• rawhide
• maim
• blackjack
• pistol-whip
• cowhide
• fustigate

4

as in to toss

to make jerky or restless movements

in obvious pain, the wounded soldier thrashed about his cot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• toss
• twitch
• fidget
• squirm
• jerk
• twist
• fiddle
• writhe
• wiggle
• shake
• tremble
• shiver
• thresh
• wriggle
• jig
• jiggle
• shudder
• flutter
• flit
• quiver
• squiggle
• quake
• pace
• twitter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• relax
• calm (down)
• unwind
• still

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

Recent Examples of thrash

Similarly, the Cougars thrashed 15th-seeded Idaho 78-47. —Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026

Premier League champions Liverpool lost 1-0 at Galatasaray, while Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real in Madrid and Chelsea crumbled to lose 5-2 in Paris. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026

With slow songs from the heart and thrashing experiments that deconstruct and glitch flamenco, reggaeton, rap, and breakbeat, the collective has gained a following in Spain’s underground and even rubbed shoulders with its mainstream. —E.r. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026

Emily brought her dramatic energy to the shows, thrashing her skinny way through the crowds in her surrealist thrift-store getups, crowd-surfing and stage diving and taking elbows to the face with theatrical aplomb. —Andrew Martin, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing thrash

• thrash (out)