toss

1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word toss distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of toss are cast, fling, hurl, pitch, sling, and throw. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to toss?

In some situations, the words cast and toss are roughly equivalent. However, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for toss?

The meanings of fling and toss largely overlap; however, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When might hurl be a better fit than toss?

While in some cases nearly identical to toss, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

In what contexts can pitch take the place of toss?

Although the words pitch and toss have much in common, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When is sling a more appropriate choice than toss?

While the synonyms sling and toss are close in meaning, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When could throw be used to replace toss?

The words throw and toss are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

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 toss The uncle, who is autistic, tossed the baby down the chute, sending her tumbling three floors to the basement incinerator inside the seven-story building near Steuben St. and Weser Ave. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025 Boyd tossed seven shutout innings, taking a no-hitter into the fifth, and scattered four hits, walked one and struck out six Royals. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025 Check if your deodorant is part of the recall, and toss or return it. Jenna Anderson, Health, 21 July 2025 Tuesday, the inspector counted over 25 flies by the dishwasher, over 10 by the duck hot holding unit, one live fly on a foam single service item that got tossed and two on cooked duck and cooked pork. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for toss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toss
Verb
  • Also, a covert foreign influence campaign aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • The changes bumped the base credit from 20 to 35 percent, which will likely shower productions with significantly more subsidies, though legislators mostly targeted swaying TV shows to film in the state.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • Drone footage obtained by Brazilian outlet TV Brasil EBC appeared to show Marins sitting in the grey sand conscious and fidgeting.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 4 July 2025
  • In your experience, do people fidget to purposely get non-conclusive results?
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • Facing a ream of questions about the future of MasterChef now that Wallace has been dismissed, Tim Davie threw his weight behind the BBC stalwart series, which is currently renewed up until 2028.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 July 2025
  • Through his first eight seasons with the Panthers, Newton threw for over 3,000 yards each year.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Mold: Any signs of mold mean the dressing should be discarded.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 July 2025
  • The example Apple Design Team member Rene Lee uses in this video is for apps that might open a certain type of file from the Files app; previously, opening a new file should have discarded the current contents of that app window and opened the new file.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • But that’s not enough opposition to stop CPS from lurching substantially further toward insolvency if Harden and interim school Superintendent Macquline King choose that route.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
  • Like Germany after the defeat of Hitler, Argentina lurched back and forth between judging its past crimes and trying to move beyond them.
    Julia M. Klein, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Having already had to navigate a 180-degree turn around a roundabout at 80km per hour, the road jerked to the left with around 1.6km remaining and, with some riders forced wide, the group was split.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • The passenger jerked forward and their belongings were thrown to the floor.
    Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in Saturday night’s violence, which followed several days of lower intensity unrest.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
  • As Elia trudged down the left-field line to the clubhouse after the game, a dozen or so alleged Cub fans doused Moreland with stale beer and hurled verbal abuse at Larry Bowa.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Just weeks after the Thomas Fire tore through the hills above Montecito, an intense winter storm dumped several inches of rain in January 2018.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
  • Company insiders, also including the finance chief, have dumped $16.6 million in shares over the past 30 days.
    Alex Harring,Nick Wells, CNBC, 21 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toss. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on toss

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!