as in whipping
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1
as in hiding
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
a graphic depiction of a sailor being flogged by the captain for disobeying orders
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
was fined heavily for flogging a horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in shuffling
British
to move heavily or clumsily
for most of the night, searchers flogged through the marsh, crying out for the lost child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in struggling
British
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
ignoring the groans and catcalls that his speech was provoking, the backbencher flogged away
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of flogging
Barbara Hagenbaugh,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Aikens has a modest staff, including a host and a house dom, a professional dominant who performs demonstrations such as flogging and wax play for the 30-and-over crowd.
—
Victoria M. Walker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 May 2026
None of that requires punishing him with a public flogging.
—
Armando Salguero Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
In September 1850, Congress banned flogging on all US ships.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Cheating has been part of the Olympics since the ancient games, when violators were punished with fines, public flogging or lifetime bans.
—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Despite a pretty lively premiere week thanks to a public flogging from critics that seemed to pique audience interest, All’s Fair did have some tough competition during that interval as well.
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
In an even more meta moment, Amazon interrupted its own Upfront with actual ads with Summer House star Paige DeSorbo flogging certain items to an increasingly frustrated audience.
—
Peter White,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Examples include a husband having the legal right to restrict his wife’s travel and employment, unequal divorce rights and punishment for appearing in public without a hijab ranging from fines to prison time to flogging.
—
Ellie Austin,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Others have called out the boring marketing campaign based around flogging variants in order for Swift to finally beat the record for the biggest opening sales week for a female artist in history (currently held by Adele, which she is likely projected to break).
—
Bianca Davino,
Refinery29,
7 Oct. 2025
The Black Death and its aftermath saw a great resurgence of apocalyptic flagellation, with thousands of adherents flogging themselves up and down the Continent (the movement failed to take off in England, which figures).
—
Michael Robbins,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
In October 2008, Greenspan underwent an hourslong public flogging on Capitol Hill from lawmakers who once hung on every word the former Fed chairman had to say.
—
Barbara Hagenbaugh,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Aikens has a modest staff, including a host and a house dom, a professional dominant who performs demonstrations such as flogging and wax play for the 30-and-over crowd.
—
Victoria M. Walker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 May 2026
None of that requires punishing him with a public flogging.
—
Armando Salguero Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
In September 1850, Congress banned flogging on all US ships.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Cheating has been part of the Olympics since the ancient games, when violators were punished with fines, public flogging or lifetime bans.
—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Despite a pretty lively premiere week thanks to a public flogging from critics that seemed to pique audience interest, All’s Fair did have some tough competition during that interval as well.
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
So, that is one gig at a completely unnecessary addition to the sports calendar, created by corporate interests for the sole intention of flogging products to people who do not really like sport… and another at the Enhanced Games.
—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
In an even more meta moment, Amazon interrupted its own Upfront with actual ads with Summer House star Paige DeSorbo flogging certain items to an increasingly frustrated audience.
—
Peter White,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.
—
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Examples include a husband having the legal right to restrict his wife’s travel and employment, unequal divorce rights and punishment for appearing in public without a hijab ranging from fines to prison time to flogging.
—
Ellie Austin,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Others have called out the boring marketing campaign based around flogging variants in order for Swift to finally beat the record for the biggest opening sales week for a female artist in history (currently held by Adele, which she is likely projected to break).
—
Bianca Davino,
Refinery29,
7 Oct. 2025
The Black Death and its aftermath saw a great resurgence of apocalyptic flagellation, with thousands of adherents flogging themselves up and down the Continent (the movement failed to take off in England, which figures).
—
Michael Robbins,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flogging
Noun
-
Reynolds cites the early-18th-century diary of William Byrd II, who read Homer in the morning and administered whippings to refractory slaves in the afternoon.
-
In a mixing bowl, beat whipping cream (with mascarpone or other ingredients, if called for) with a hand mixer until soft peaks form.
Verb
-
The country’s singular role in hiding Jews from their Nazi occupiers is well documented.
-
The anti-Trump rage, the surge of younger, more educated progressive voters, the hunger for someone willing to fight on affordability with policy, message, and tone, in Albany and Washington — all of it was hiding in plain sight for anyone looking at the data rather than the tired, old playbook.
Verb
-
But the Carolinas have their own ways of making barbecue finger-licking.
-
France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, who each already have four goals in the tournament, will be licking their lips.
Verb
-
Enola dutifully trudges between clues and possibilities, shuffling through crime scenes and racing around shady spaces, all of this much more paint-by-numbers than connect-the-dots.
-
Colombia is trying its luck from distance, but Costa has been equal to each shot, first punching away Jefferson Lerma's rocket from the right, about 25 yards out, and then shuffling his feet to his left and catching Jhon Arias's shot from about the same distance.
Verb
-
Trump taking the country to war with Iran, in part at the urging of his pal Bibi — without any sensible plan, debate, sanction from Congress or consideration as to how this might hurt Americans already struggling to make ends meet.
-
The rules were altered in 2004 at the urging of Algeria, which was struggling to field a competitive national team with wholly domestic players and saw dozens of better prospects from the diaspora living in France.
Noun
-
The Blågult had started so well, mind you, with a 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
-
Jonathan David had a hat trick in last Thursday’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.
Verb
-
Top brands are slashing prices on laptops and tablets, with discounts on favorites like Apple AirTags.
-
While the marketplace’s official sale starts on June 23, some brands are already slashing prices, including Avidlove.
Verb
-
Unfortunately, this can lead to some individuals lashing out in response to their own insecurities, hate and low bar of aptitude, which is confirmed by the tenor of the attacks.
-
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster is apologizing after lashing out at a critic.
Cite this Entry
“Flogging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flogging. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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