as in straps
a long thin or flexible tool for striking
a 100-year-old whip that was once used by a coachman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in hides
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
whipped the animal when it did not move fast enough to please him
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in bombs
to defeat by a large margin
we whipped them 13-0 in the last game
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in swings
to change the course or direction of (something)
any more complaints and I'm whipping this car around and heading back home
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
huge raindrops whipped the windows
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 whips
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
His tail whips against the stalks of flowers planted by the woman who recently moved there with him.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Johnson is one of two majority whips.
—Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
As the wind whips, many tents blow over and collapse.
—Storey Wertheimer, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Wind whips ferociously, kicking up gusts of powdery snow.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026
Athena whips votes; Myki doesn’t bother.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
Sticks, staff, swords, sabers, whips or scepters including extendable items.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Prayer mats lie next to heavy artillery; smoke billows from parked whips; backstabbers get cut first.
—Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025
Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Stephen Fry whips out his phone to snag a picture with Johnny Knoxville inside the Fox Upfront 2026 afterparty in New York City on May 11.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Like many a cat lover, Baseman whips out a phone to share videos of his beloved feline muses.
—Iris Kwok
may 12, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Those of us who love her were able to finally take a breather on this one when the film bros eventually shut up and were able to admit that Hathaway totally whips ass in this franchise closer.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
Willow whips, vines and shorter branches will not be picked up during brush collection.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
His tail whips against the stalks of flowers planted by the woman who recently moved there with him.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Johnson is one of two majority whips.
—Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
As the wind whips, many tents blow over and collapse.
—Storey Wertheimer, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Wind whips ferociously, kicking up gusts of powdery snow.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026
Athena whips votes; Myki doesn’t bother.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
Sticks, staff, swords, sabers, whips or scepters including extendable items.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Prayer mats lie next to heavy artillery; smoke billows from parked whips; backstabbers get cut first.
—Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
In the fourth minute, Meschack Elia whips a ball across the box to Bakambu, eight yards from goal.
—Franklin Leonard, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Stephen Fry whips out his phone to snag a picture with Johnny Knoxville inside the Fox Upfront 2026 afterparty in New York City on May 11.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Like many a cat lover, Baseman whips out a phone to share videos of his beloved feline muses.
—Iris Kwok
may 12, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Those of us who love her were able to finally take a breather on this one when the film bros eventually shut up and were able to admit that Hathaway totally whips ass in this franchise closer.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whips
Noun
-
The Aquazzura pair, the Twist 95, featured an open toe, a backless slide shape and two twisted straps across the front of the foot.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
-
Pre-treat the underband and straps of sports bras, as these areas absorb the most sweat.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Robert hides his Congolese identity for fear of being deported, or not being allowed education or work.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
The complaint alleges the system hides real-world costs from children who lack the ability to navigate layered currency conversions.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The United States bombs Iran's nuclear facilities days later.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.—
Christopher Weber,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Bz points north, Earth’s field resists it; when Bz swings south, the two fields connect, allowing plasma to stream in.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Pitchers also know Kwan almost never swings at the first pitch.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
For good measure, Marty Supreme actress Odessa A’zion literally licks the face of the Stones frontman, who in real life is 82 years old.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
18 May 2026
-
Before the treatment, many participants struggled with a slow, mechanical gait, and 12 used assistive devices such as walkers and canes.—
Amber Dance,
ArsTechnica,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
SpaceX's Starlink is rolling out a new deal that slashes the monthly price of the satellite internet service in the US by $21.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
5 May 2026
-
Earlier in the film, Kenobi slashes off the arm of a creature who was known then as Walrus Man and is known now as Ponda Baba.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whips. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
