whipsawed; whipsawing; whipsaws
1
: to saw with a whipsaw
2
: to beset or victimize in two opposite ways at once, by a two-phase operation, or by the collusive action of two opponents
wage earners were whipsawed by inflation and high taxes
Did you know?
A whipsaw is a type of hand-powered saw worked by two people, one of whom stands on or above the log being sawed and the other below it, usually in a pit. The tool dates back to the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th century that anyone thought to use the saw's name figuratively to describe situations in which someone or something is doubly "cut," or hurt. Today, the word is commonly used when discussing financial crises or losses as well as ideological changes (as in government policy) that might "cut."
Examples of whipsaw in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Worland, Time, 21 June 2025
Meanwhile, the Fed chair has defended not reducing rates as the Fed waits to see how the president’s whipsaw trade policies and tax cut plans affect a sturdy U.S. economy.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 12 June 2025
Jeff Goertzen, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
Strategists’ targets have been whipsawing this year in response to shifting tariff policies and geopolitical tensions.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whipsaw
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.
Noun
And, while production may vary day-to-day as the winds blow, prices can be set for decades—immune from the whipsaws of global commodity prices.
—Justin Worland, Time, 21 June 2025
Meanwhile, the Fed chair has defended not reducing rates as the Fed waits to see how the president’s whipsaw trade policies and tax cut plans affect a sturdy U.S. economy.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 12 June 2025
Verb
The following month, the three indexes whipsawed on the news that the Federal Reserve was prepared to keep financial markets functioning while Trump softened on his tariffs.
—Jeff Goertzen, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
Strategists’ targets have been whipsawing this year in response to shifting tariff policies and geopolitical tensions.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whipsaw
Cite this Entry
“Whipsaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whipsaw. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share