1
as in swaying
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the boat tossed to and fro in the heavy seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in fidgeting
to make jerky or restless movements
tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep in the heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in throwing
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm
toss that football over here
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in dumping
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we need to go through the basement and toss whatever we don't use
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tossing
The officers moved quickly, coordinating their response and getting the dog out of the icy water safely by tossing a rope around it and dragging it out of the pool.
—
Josh Sanders, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In just the past five months, Jones Dickson has dismissed charges against nine law enforcement officers in three separate criminal cases — most recently tossing the manslaughter case against former San Leandro police Officer Jason Fletcher in the 2020 fatal shooting of Steven Taylor.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Even in the winter, tossing, turning, and waking up feeling overheated is common.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
While some clothes should always be washed after one use, other garments can be worn a few times before tossing them into the hamper, which is typically the case for jeans.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
In the years since, Americans vowed to effectively boycott microplastics, hastily tossing plastic spatulas in the garbage.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Jan. 2026
With that said, if the potato is soft, wrinkly, extensively sprouted, or has a greenish tint, all of our experts recommend tossing it.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
Will Pats fans be tossing snow in celebration Sunday afternoon?
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Silver Flatware Authentic silver flatware is worth holding onto or reselling, not tossing into the donation bin.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
Josh Sanders, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In just the past five months, Jones Dickson has dismissed charges against nine law enforcement officers in three separate criminal cases — most recently tossing the manslaughter case against former San Leandro police Officer Jason Fletcher in the 2020 fatal shooting of Steven Taylor.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Even in the winter, tossing, turning, and waking up feeling overheated is common.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
While some clothes should always be washed after one use, other garments can be worn a few times before tossing them into the hamper, which is typically the case for jeans.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
In the years since, Americans vowed to effectively boycott microplastics, hastily tossing plastic spatulas in the garbage.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Jan. 2026
With that said, if the potato is soft, wrinkly, extensively sprouted, or has a greenish tint, all of our experts recommend tossing it.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
Will Pats fans be tossing snow in celebration Sunday afternoon?
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Silver Flatware Authentic silver flatware is worth holding onto or reselling, not tossing into the donation bin.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tossing
Verb
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This time, however, their two daughters were swaying in the background instead of their crowd of wedding guests.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
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Increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures that appear to be swaying sharks' migratory patterns may be contributing to a rise in attacks despite overfishing depleting some species, scientists say.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cole, wearing a khaki jumpsuit, spent much of the hearing sitting quietly and attentively as the parties argued, occasionally adjusting his glasses or fidgeting slightly in his chair.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
30 Dec. 2025
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Applause intermingled with tears as the families of the Camp Mystic campers and counselors looked on, many with small children fidgeting in their Sunday-best attire behind the governor.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After throwing for just 241 total yards in wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State to start Miami’s postseason journey, Beck completed 23 of 37 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and had the game-clinching rushing touchdown.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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This happened after a number of protesters began throwing snowballs at federal vehicles on the scene.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some universities are now dumping buyout funds at discounts following years of poor returns, while public stocks have outperformed the asset class.—
Phil Serafino,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
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As a major winter storm began dumping snow across the Baltimore area early Sunday, several hundred employees at Sinai Hospital stayed to keep the hospital running and patients cared for.—
Josh Davis,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
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The midterm blue wave backlash is gathering, with the generic ballot lurching in the Democrats' favor and Trump’s popularity cratering.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The tear-jerking dramedy featured a breakthrough role for Emilia Jones, an Oscar-winning, scene-stealing turn by Troy Kotsur and a thoughtful narrative that took audiences into the personal lives of a deaf family with a single hearing member.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
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That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Each of these impact sites stands testament to the violence of its creation — cataclysmic collisions that carved vast basins in the lunar surface, while hurling debris miles across the face of Earth's natural satellite.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Immigration authorities appear to be hurling smoke bombs at protesters.—
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Add pork, discarding the excess sauce.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
22 Jan. 2026
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Add pork, discarding the excess sauce.—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tossing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tossing. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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