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
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
Shang-Jin Wei from Columbia University and Columbia Business School along with Yifan Zhou from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University looked at lawmakers who ascended to leadership posts, such as Speaker of the House as well as House and Senate floor leaders, whips, and conference/caucus chairs.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
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
Or whips around his defender in a bold pirouette.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Marty whips off his sport coat and throws it in the crowd.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
As WASP-121b whips around its star once every 30 hours, intense radiation from its stellar parent heats its atmosphere to around 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit (2,300 degrees Celsius).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 11 Dec. 2025
FlyHouse’s founder whips out his phone during a zoom call, focusing on the FriendShare feature, to set up a charter flight.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2025
Hoosier Mama Pie Company whips pumpkin for a chiffon pie, blends it with ginger for a cheesecake, swirls it together with chocolate for a twist on chess pie and even fuses it with apple for a sour cream Dutch apple pie with walnuts.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
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, 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
Shang-Jin Wei from Columbia University and Columbia Business School along with Yifan Zhou from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University looked at lawmakers who ascended to leadership posts, such as Speaker of the House as well as House and Senate floor leaders, whips, and conference/caucus chairs.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
Or whips around his defender in a bold pirouette.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Marty whips off his sport coat and throws it in the crowd.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
As WASP-121b whips around its star once every 30 hours, intense radiation from its stellar parent heats its atmosphere to around 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit (2,300 degrees Celsius).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 11 Dec. 2025
FlyHouse’s founder whips out his phone during a zoom call, focusing on the FriendShare feature, to set up a charter flight.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2025
Hoosier Mama Pie Company whips pumpkin for a chiffon pie, blends it with ginger for a cheesecake, swirls it together with chocolate for a twist on chess pie and even fuses it with apple for a sour cream Dutch apple pie with walnuts.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whips
Noun
-
Choose from classic styles, vegan leather designs with interchangeable straps, clear styles great for summer events and tumbler compatible styles.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Not only does the material ensure comfort and support, but the unique design, with thick straps that curve to the exact shape of my arches and a cupped heel, creates a glove-like fit that hugs my feet.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 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 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
-
The pendulum always swings in Minnesota.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The public discussion still swings between utopian promise and apocalyptic dread.—
Barry R. Davis,
Boston Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
To rejuvenate these shrubs, cut three of the thickest canes all the way back to the ground in spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Video footage of disabled military veterans—some in wheelchairs, others leaning on canes—being zip-tied and dragged out of the Capitol Rotunda for staging a peaceful, anti-war protest.—
John Whitehead,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the end of each month, Amazon slashes prices on travel gear in order to clear house for the following month.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this month, the White House released its fiscal year (FY) 2027 federal budget request, which slashes NASA's total budget by 23% and its science funding by 47%.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whips. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
