whack 1 of 2

noun

Definition of whacknext
1
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something took a whack at solving the math problem

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2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument gave the wasp's nest a good whack with the bat

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3
as in bang
a loud explosive sound the whack echoed around the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

whack

2 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wak How to pronounce whack (audio)
1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner whacked the vending machine to get the candy bar to fall

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to assassinate
slang to put to death deliberately without a second thought the mob boss had them whacked

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 whack
Noun
And that the federal numbers and state numbers on all those dams are a bit out of whack? — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 22 May 2026 For a long time, it's been out of whack. — CBS News, 17 May 2026
Verb
Mitchell Robinson elbow checked him in the face, Jose Alvarado pulled off a single-legged take-down in the first half, and Towns drew a frustration flagrant foul when Wembanyama whacked him in the face. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026 Towards the end of the season, Chris relapses and starts using again, leading to a car crash that leaves him maimed, giving Tony no other option but to whack his underling. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whack
  1. attempt
  2. blow
  3. bang
  4. hit
  5. assassinate
  6. try
  7. slap
  8. clap
Noun
  • In a confessional at the start of this week’s episode, Luke tries to redress his failure to communicate with Gen as an intentional attempt to guard Gen’s feelings in the middle of the charter.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • Tokyo — Japan may have its first ever female prime minister, but her government’s attempts to avoid a royal succession crisis are making the chances of a woman taking the imperial throne ever slimmer.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of attempt
Noun
  • Ohtani’s absence will be a blow for baseball’s Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park.
    — Dan Greenspan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
  • The Atlas Lions are the lone African team left in the competition and are looking to stun the footballing world with a takedown blow of Didier Deschamps’ 2018 World Cup champions in this revenge match.
    — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • Given that the one-piece is reversible, you’re guaranteed plenty of bang for your buck.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • The show frontloads big episodes at the start of a season and then ends with a bang, leaving us with too many filler episodes between.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of bang
Verb
  • However, without strong spending activity at home, a heavy reliance on exports makes China particularly vulnerable to a reversal in AI sentiment, which would hit sales of high-tech products.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Lanageliers started the game at catcher and hit third in the lineup while the American League won a largely uneventful affair, 4-0, at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • Attorneys at a key hearing for the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk sparred over whether a police interview should be made public, with Kirk’s family attorney saying that sealing it will only sow distrust in the justice system.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 July 2026
  • The 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University will be in court this week for the most substantial hearing so far in his murder case.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
Definition of assassinate
Noun
  • Developers, students and anyone else interested can sign up on Devpost to build something using the company’s skincare and clothing try-on technology.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
  • Popovic, the 5-foot-9 freshman from Serbia, aced it on her first try.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Definition of try
Noun
  • Gilla Band’s origins lie, improbably, in the legend of Fox’s pre-teen slap bass skills.
    — Laura Snapes, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
  • John Oliver’s explosive three-episode arc on General Hospital started with a bang, and is going out with a slap.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • The origin of the thunderclap (sometimes called the Viking clap) is disputed, with several clubs in Europe claiming to have started the trend, but Iceland popularised it and brought it to the world stage.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 June 2026
  • One of the moments in the musical that caused the most laughter and claps from the audience was the final song, which mocks the idea of using violence as a form of protest rather than joining a movement or focusing on policy.
    — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
Definition of clap

Browse Nearby Words

wettish
whack
whacked
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Cite this Entry

“Whack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whack. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of whack for Spanish Speakers

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