1
as in swaps
to give up (something) and take something else in return
switched the real grapes for fake ones switched the day of his flight from Thursday to Friday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in flaps
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hides
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
switched the stagecoach horses to control the direction they took
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in reverses
to change (as an opinion) to the contrary
a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in whips
a long thin or flexible tool for striking
struck the horse's hide with a leather switch, and it took off at a gallop
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flicks
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
that telltale switch of the cat's tail meant there was a mouse under the piano
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
in frustration, he gave the mule a sharp switch on the rump, but it still wouldn't budge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of switches
Cox Communications, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Long-term stability Nickel-titanium is a shape-memory alloy that switches between two crystal structures to transfer heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Near the end of this complex six-hundred-page book, Yamashita switches to a collective pronoun, suggesting that a common dream has connected her characters.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Further experiments indicated that the flagellar motor also switches direction.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Press the ‘Boost’ button and the car completely switches personality.
—New Atlas, 16 Apr. 2026
Critical Loop’s system switches to on-site batteries and solar during those peak hours, then back to the grid when demand drops, saving the airport millions over years.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
The lens switches from distant to close subjects in a snap.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Burick and one of his students assemble the base for one of ENIAC’s three portable function tables, which contained banks of switches that stored numerical constants.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Then, all the momentum switches to us and all the pressure sort of goes to the Flyers.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Twenty-two switches were recovered in Hartford alone since 2024.
—Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
For example, wiping down light switches, dusting baseboards, or eliminating scuffs on walls can instantly make your home look refreshed.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
In addition, inherent design flaws contributed to the disaster, notably the graphite end switches of the neutron-absorbing rods.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Sporadic, quick switches of play did create openings.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But those moments that flirt with horror are less exciting than the constant switches in who has the upper hand.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Long-term stability Nickel-titanium is a shape-memory alloy that switches between two crystal structures to transfer heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Near the end of this complex six-hundred-page book, Yamashita switches to a collective pronoun, suggesting that a common dream has connected her characters.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Further experiments indicated that the flagellar motor also switches direction.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.
—Cox Communications, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Press the ‘Boost’ button and the car completely switches personality.
—New Atlas, 16 Apr. 2026
Critical Loop’s system switches to on-site batteries and solar during those peak hours, then back to the grid when demand drops, saving the airport millions over years.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
The lens switches from distant to close subjects in a snap.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
Every chat with Claude or GPT runs on the same underlying machinery that calculates spreadsheet totals and renders video games—silicon wafers etched with billions of microscopic switches, organized into specialized processors.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Burick and one of his students assemble the base for one of ENIAC’s three portable function tables, which contained banks of switches that stored numerical constants.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Then, all the momentum switches to us and all the pressure sort of goes to the Flyers.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Twenty-two switches were recovered in Hartford alone since 2024.
—Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
For example, wiping down light switches, dusting baseboards, or eliminating scuffs on walls can instantly make your home look refreshed.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
In addition, inherent design flaws contributed to the disaster, notably the graphite end switches of the neutron-absorbing rods.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Sporadic, quick switches of play did create openings.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But those moments that flirt with horror are less exciting than the constant switches in who has the upper hand.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
Peet’s character swaps out baggy pants and an oversized sweatshirt for relaxed joggers (similar to this pair at Amazon) and a structured tunic-length pullover like this option from Quince.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Philips 1000 Series Touchscreen Key-free Electronic Deadbolt swaps a standard deadbolt with no wiring required.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
-
View gallery - 7 images A wooden dragon sculpture that gently flaps its wings has become a crowd-funding hit, but after seeing the traditional handcrafted work that's been put into every single model, making each one unique, the value of such a piece becomes strikingly clear.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ohm, well played by Scott who can wither with you with a look, is the classic ugly American and is rude to everyone at the hotel, but those putdowns and cruelty hides his self loathing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Creative desserts were added in late 2025, like a matcha-and-fig leaf gateaux served with green apple sorbet, and blood orange-and-yuza espuma, a fluffy citrus confection that hides a surprise of chocolate olive oil pieces.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The decision over the Ten Commandments law reverses a lower federal court ruling that had blocked about a dozen Texas school districts — including some of the state's largest — from putting up the posters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
That reverses a sustained net-short position since April 2024.—
Anuradha Raghu,
Bloomberg,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But following elite competition is nearly impossible, with subtle flicks and jabs practically invisible to the naked eye—and competitors hidden behind masks.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Why aren't there more flicks where the entire premise involves someone trying to escape the seemingly inescapable?—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pitch invasions, punches thrown (allegedly) and promotion by a whisker in the 103rd minute.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dallas and Minnesota throw punches from your weight class.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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