1
as in whipped
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
students at the private school were once routinely birched for violating the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birched
Verb
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Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026 -
Many in the room whipped out their cameras to start filming, and made the rounds to glean and share details.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When a boy had licked her neck at a party during the first week of college, a stranger!—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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There was one girl who licked doorknobs.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lashed back at Leavitt.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
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Leo has not lashed out, or gotten defensive, or allowed himself to be pulled down into the gutter.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Flights to and from smaller California hubs such as Sacramento and Burbank have been canceled, while Air Canada and German airline Lufthansa slashed routes from their summer schedules earlier this month.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Governments slashed services and raised taxes to cover their massive new pension contributions.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The updraft knifed through the building, whose inhabitants were already suffering without heat or power for much of the winter as Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy system.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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The glass began to sway as fans pounded on it in excitement and then gave way, with pieces raining on Smith.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The media flagged and flogged it for AI incompetence.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
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To be publicly flogged for how much Pa permitted us to do — that felt grossly unfair.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In Manatee County, where leaders had hoped to adapt their comprehensive plan to guard against the storms that have battered the coast year after year, the same Legislature has declared that strengthening it is unlawful.—
Haley Busch,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Same with Disney, Comcast; a lot of these companies are getting battered.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The video showed that during the second time, the dog latched onto Evans’ left forearm and violently thrashed as Evans cried out in pain.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Broncos thrashed the Carolina Panthers, turning regular season MVP Cam Newton into a Fig Newton.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Birched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birched. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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