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

The emotional landscape is heightened by birdcalls, splashing waves, and trees thrashing in the wind. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Onstage, Slayyyter, whose real name is Catherine Grace Garner, is a force, constantly moving around the stage, thrashing her head along to the music and screaming the lyrics to her songs. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

On just 19 carries, Robinson finished the game with 145 yards rushing and two more touchdowns to help lead the way to a 45-17 thrashing to move to 2-2 on the season. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

But of the leaders of those three mega-bands, perhaps the most mysterious remains Pete Townshend, The Who’s songwriter and enigmatic eminence, thrashing chords and smashing guitars while Roger Daltrey handled lead vocals. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing thrash

• thrash (out)