whaling 1 of 2

noun

Definition of whalingnext
as in clubbing

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whaling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of whale
1
as in smacking
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 hiding
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pounding
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 whaling
Noun
The backstory The hotel occupies the former IXL jam factory, a three-story building that began as a whaling shed. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026 In the 19th and early 20th centuries, eastern North Pacific gray whale populations were devastated by commercial whaling. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 25 May 2026
Verb
The species' population has jumped from around 2,000 to around 35,000 in approximately 40 years, close to their population before whaling, said Enrico Marcovaldi, co-founder of the Humpback Whale Project. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 While whaling is no longer a threat to the species, their existence is still threatened by ship strikes, entanglements in fishing gear, underwater noise and the effects of climate change, according to the NOAA. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whaling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whaling
  1. clubbing
  2. smacking
  3. hiding
  4. pounding
  5. attack
  6. slapping
  7. whipping
  8. licking
Noun
  • Bhajan clubbing has brought Hindu tradition to the dance floor, providing a sober and spiritual nightlife experience.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 July 2026
  • Some of the banner’s most successful cultural initiatives include Cinema Paradiso, a festival dedicated to movies, food and clubbing which has been housed at some of Paris’ most prestigious venues, from the Grand Palais to the Louvre.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 June 2026
Definition of clubbing
Verb
  • Heavy raindrops flew sideways, smacking against the hood of my rain jacket and creating a nearly deafening white noise.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • With a Triple-A pitcher called up for a spot start and a utilityman smacking an early two-run homer, the Boston Red Sox, having now won eight straight games, keep winning with an unlikely formula.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • Infectious disease specialists aren't disinfecting every surface or hiding from the outside world.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 2026
  • My son’s lizard looks emaciated and spends all day and night hiding underneath a piece of wood.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • The series adaptation will blend futuristic science with mystical lore, delivering on the heart-pounding suspense and international intrigue that has made the Langdon stories a global phenomenon.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2026
  • In their only debate and across the campaign trail, Elliott has been pounding away that the rich pay a smaller percentage of their overall income in taxes than the working poor.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026
Definition of pounding
Noun
  • While a ground operation would be complex, the ISIS report pointed out several possible avenues for attack.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • That case focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself; the federal one delves more into questions of motive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • This one is a badass soldier/leader, who can’t stop slapping Stuart, Kripke and Bert.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • The Congolese drum, a traditional instrument of the Luba people, makes a sound akin to the hand slapping skin.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • Iguanas usually go viral for other reasons Iguanas are usually quick-moving and run away from their would-be captors with their long tails whipping behind them.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 July 2026
  • The attorney questioned whether a person would be able to smell alcohol at the same time that wind generated by 18-wheelers and other vehicles whipping by on the highway was blowing, as was occurring during the officer’s time with Hampton.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, admitted to licking the straw and returning it to the vending machine while recording the act for his online followers.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • That means no tasting cookie dough made with raw eggs, no licking brownie batter off the beaters, and no homemade Caesar dressing made with uncooked yolks.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 23 July 2026
Definition of licking

Browse Nearby Words

whales
whaling
wham
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Cite this Entry

“Whaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whaling. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whaling

Nglish: Translation of whaling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whaling

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