Thesaurus results for THWACKING

thwacking

verb

present participle of thwack

as in smacking

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner thwacked the growling dog on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 thwacking Modern readers may take heart in the fact that there are many excellent critics thwacking through the slop—albeit with freelance machetes, on newfangled platforms. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026 Max Weinberg sat at his set, thwacking his floor tom, while Lahav fiddled with his dials, stalked into the studio to unplug, replug, and then just physically move the microphone closer to the set, then to the side, and then farther away. — Peter Ames Carlin, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025 Club World Cup viewers may remember the South American receiving the ball, skipping past an opponent, and thwacking in a long-range goal against Urawa Reds in June. — Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025 With three classes of accommodation on board, passengers can sit at the windows of vintage cabins paneled with polished cherrywood and draped with blush pink silks as the train rumbles through rubber and palm plantations, giant leaves thwacking the sides. — Monisha Rajesh, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwacking

Verb

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Already, Skubal’s joining in on pregame handshake lines and slapping the dugout railing in time to Roki Sasaki’s warm-up music.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

The Orioles scored only one run over their previous three games against Boston, but Joey Cantillo (9-9) did plenty to help them out of their slump, allowing 3 hits and 5 walks and hitting 2 batters in 2 1/3 innings.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
In men’s tennis, before even hitting the ball, the server has around a 66 percent chance of winning the point.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

There are several clips of him striking blockers, knocking people backward and disengaging from blocks.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
Shah says the brands that typically paid closer attention to these rankings are the ones that came knocking on KCD’s door first for AI visibility metrics.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

Stanley is accused of blocking Rajabi’s car with his body, punching Rajabi’s window and resisting arrest.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
An Arkansas State Police trooper was captured on dashcam footage yanking the passenger of a vehicle by his hair and punching him in the face after a high-speed chase that ended in the streets of Blytheville.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

Verb

The Chicago Cubs center fielder made an Air Jordan-style catch during Friday’s 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins, banging into a nook where two walls converge at funky loanDepot park.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Last week, law enforcement in the city of Kirkland, Washington (just northeast of Seattle) responded to a 911 call from a resident reporting loud banging inside their home.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of banging

Verb

There are frightening stories of swordfish charging boats, and even spearing their transoms and whacking propellers.

— Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
Yes, there were moments of humor, such as getting magic potions around the campfire at the end of each stage by whacking helpless little elves, but most of it was played straight, to great effect.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of whacking

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“Thwacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwacking. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of thwacking

verb

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