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

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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
However, after a final moratorium on commercial whaling, their populations have grown. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993 and Iceland in 2006, ‌despite an international moratorium that took effect in 1986 ​to protect whale populations. — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
Watson was imprisoned in Greenland for five months in 2024 after being arrested on a Japanese warrant over charges of obstructing a whaling ship in 2010. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 The New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, which highlights the history, science and art of whaling rather than marine animals, embraced the one-star review by boldly printing the phrase on T-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 30 July 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
  • Vogue Italia describes soft clubbing as moving clubbing out of traditional nightlife venues and into places like bars, bakeries and gardens during morning and brunch hours.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Vogue Italia describes soft clubbing as moving the club out of traditional nightlife venues and into bars, bakeries and gardens during morning and brunch hours, with cappuccino replacing cocktails as DJ sets and brunch converge.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of clubbing
Verb
  • But Varma and Shivam Dube (27) upped the ante in the final three overs by smacking 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • Rice takes curious young readers on a tour of the natural world that’s hiding in plain sight, focusing on the ways that plants and animals communicate and connect.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • February 19 – March 20 An annoying little problem could be hiding a surprisingly easy fix.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • At the bottom of the slope, dozens of protective barriers have been installed as a buffer from waves pounding the shoreline.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • When defenses do catch up, McQuillan — like her teammates — have the green light to keep pounding away.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of pounding
Noun
  • Marshall's campaign, for its part, bet heavily on an attack ad surrounding claims that Hamilton protected a pedophile.
    — Grace Hills, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the Dnipro area, rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble Tuesday morning, after a Russian attack killed one person and wounded 17, local authorities said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • Gabby Williams hopped off a double-decker bus and began dancing through the streets, blowing a whistle to the beat and slapping high-fives with fans all while keeping her WNBA Finals MVP trophy safely tucked in her left arm.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Jamie Love is swaying, slapping a hand against her thigh to keep time, and mouthing along to the music that plays from a set of portable speakers.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
  • By far, the easiest way to decongest my pores is whipping out one of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and giving my T-zone a very proper run-through.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • That’s not exactly chump change, considering Atlanta was still licking its wounds after the Great Depression.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whaling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whaling

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