as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
some medieval monks believed it was necessary to flagellate themselves in order to keep their desires in check
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flagellate
His only way of finding any kind of life for himself is to embrace evil, to stop running away from it, to try to stop morally flagellating himself.
—
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Please, more of Isabella lightly teasing Marty about his tendency to flagellate himself while considering the agony of the human condition.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
In recent times, the series has been painstakingly flagellating itself for the past.
—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
Stephens would do well to stop flagellating himself and the Never Trumpers and instead join democracy advocates in defending the rule of law in a dangerous new world.
—
Dp Opinion,
The Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flagellate
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Please, more of Isabella lightly teasing Marty about his tendency to flagellate himself while considering the agony of the human condition.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
In recent times, the series has been painstakingly flagellating itself for the past.
—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
Stephens would do well to stop flagellating himself and the Never Trumpers and instead join democracy advocates in defending the rule of law in a dangerous new world.
—
Dp Opinion,
The Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flagellate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagellate
Verb
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Scotland carried the ball for 13 phases to enter Argentina's 22 and Hutchinson whipped an accurate long pass to Tuipulotu on the right wing who scored untouched.
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Olise kept his intentions hidden to the last, shaping up to cross the ball to the back post before sharply turning his hips and whipping his pass into the goalscorer’s path, breaking two defensive lines along the way.
Verb
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For loungability there’s a king bed, a hide-a-bed sofa, a fireplace and theater seats.
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When Fluffy failed to come out of hiding after 24 hours, Melissa Kirby and her husband began making and posting missing cat posters around their neighborhood.
Verb
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The most recent controversy came in January, when the county paid $135,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused Kramer of improperly slashing a property’s value by millions of dollars — then retaliating against the employee who raised alarms about it.
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Last year, the charity Oxfam noted that G7 countries, which collectively account for around 75% of all official development assistance, were set to slash their aid spending by 28% in 2026 compared to 2024 levels.
Verb
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In reality, Watson wasn’t a bar fighter or famous for horsewhipping cowboys.
Verb
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Ukrainian officials have warned residents to guard against further strikes as Russia lashes out.
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Many on the right lashed out at conservative justices who joined the majority decision.
Verb
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There was lace everywhere and leather too.
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From Ikebana studios in Kyoto to leather workshops in Florence and tartan looms in Stirling, a growing number of trips now build entire itineraries around a single craft.
Verb
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Rangzen appears to flail and takes several steps as the fire consumes him.
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The inebriated father who sometimes leapt upon his sleeping children, fists flailing?
Verb
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The 1986 theatrical movie boldly killed off many of the franchise's most iconic characters in a bid to flog more toys.
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And a few, like Giuliana Rancic, will flog some specific Pratt issues, like the brutal state of the city’s animal shelters.
Cite this Entry
“Flagellate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagellate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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