whales 1 of 2

noun

plural of whale
as in dinosaurs
something that is unusually large and powerful a whale of a pickup truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whales

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of whale
1
as in hits
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in hides
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it

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3
as in pounds
to strike repeatedly mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 whales
Noun
In February last year, more than 150 whales beached off the coast of Tasmania, Australia – and all of them either died or were euthanized – in the first mass stranding of the animals in Tasmania in 50 years. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026 Necropsy reports this week specified the causes of death for two beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium after they were rescued from Canada. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026 Four beluga whales relocated from a facility in Canada swim close to one another in a habitat at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium on July 23, 2026. — Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026 Several of those whales were endangered humpbacks trapped by crab gear, both commercial and recreational. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
Killer whales off New England The aquarium says killer whale sightings are uncommon in New England waters. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whales
  1. dinosaurs
  2. hits
  3. hides
  4. pounds
  5. giants
  6. punches
  7. whips
  8. licks
Noun
  • In the photo, a cake with a gold number 3 could be seen in the center of a table, featuring what appeared to be dinosaurs on it.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Identifying red blood cells in dinosaurs The fossil is a partial hind limb of Aratasaurus museunacionali, a theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of dinosaurs
Verb
  • Their resume boasts multiplatinum Number One hits, instant sellout tours, and household-name status.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Dieffenbach hits sprinting Florida transfer Aidan Mizell down the middle for a 75-yard touchdown pass.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of hits
Verb
  • More than 60 miles into the Andaman Sea, South Asia’s only active volcano hides a thriving underwater world shaped by fire and teeming with life.
    — Avantika Chaturvedi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Its story follows the Forgers, a household that keeps up the appearance of an ordinary life while each member hides something.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of hides
Verb
  • Wyatt pounds Poly, but win or lose the Chaps would be the second seed and Brewer third due to Wyatt’s win over the Bears.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Higher prices come as Ukraine pounds Russian refineries, forcing Moscow to ban diesel exports.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of pounds
Noun
  • Currently, to meet the massive capital requirements of AI infrastructure, American tech giants are expanding financing channels into overseas markets like Europe while extending bond maturities.
    — , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The legal action follows successful lawsuits brought against the tech giants by California and others that have resulted in massive civil settlements.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of giants
Verb
  • Surveillance camera footage of the altercation shows one of the men slapping the tourist before the other suspect punches the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Belgal is seen reversing and then driving out of the parking spot as one of the armed men punches the driver's side window and breaks the glass.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of punches
Verb
  • Shutters bang, screen doors slam; the wind whips them all into a frenzy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Paddling along the shoreline of a small lake in the wilderness, as pine and spruce trees hover over the dark water’s edge and the wind whips waves against the canoe, a human knows her place.
    — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of whips
Verb
  • That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of licks

Browse Nearby Words

whalers
whales
whaling
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Cite this Entry

“Whales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whales. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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