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
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 July 2026
Sweden half-clear the ball, but only as far as Ao Tanaka, who immediately switches the play again over to the left, where Kamada is there to meet it on the volley — but hits it straight at the goalkeeper.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
This train of thought quickly gets lost in the sauce as the topic frustratingly switches back to Shamea and her job with the NBA.
—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
By default, the SL3-P automatically switches between the rear LCD and EVF using an eye sensor, and goes to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2026
The study points to a protein called HDAC3, which switches certain genes on and off to keep the lining sturdy.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
The frozen vine at The Third Door Marietta’s The Third Door switches up the seasons with menus that are always remarkable.
—
Angela Hansberger,
AJC.com,
21 June 2026
When using a device like an iPhone, a child switches tasks every 65 seconds on average, training their brains to expect constant novelty.
—
Kira Willey,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Over the summer, Lawrence, like other college cities, switches from the liveliness of young students to the day-to-day of residents who have made a life there.
—
Pj Green
june 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 July 2026
Intelligent power switches can monitor electrical flow while controlling loads more efficiently.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 July 2026
As software becomes easier to build, the market will be flooded with more apps, switches and platforms.
—
Michael Wright,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
At least 28 states, including California and Indiana, have prohibited the ownership and use of Glock switches in specific laws, according to a count by Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun control organization.
—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
But besides hotel coffee makers and practically anything in a bathroom, other notoriously contaminated hotel surfaces include telephones, light switches, refrigerator handles, coffee mugs, and doorknobs.
—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2026
The nanometer, an atomic-scale unit of measurement, doesn't refer to the literal size of chips or their components, but to how densely transistors -- the tiny electronic switches that make up processors -- can be packed together.
—
CBS News,
25 June 2026
When a sports team or federation switches licensing partners, there’s typically a sell-through period that allows the prior partner to move unsold inventory amid the transition.
—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
24 June 2026
Rather abruptly, the location changes and the mood switches to darkness in another part of the planet as key villain Krem (who seems to use the same stylist as Pinhead and is played by Matthias Schoenaerts) arrives and murders the parents of 13-year-old Ruthye (Eve Ridley).
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Verb
The Empire State Building frequently switches up its lighting scheme to commemorate special events throughout the year.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 July 2026
Sweden half-clear the ball, but only as far as Ao Tanaka, who immediately switches the play again over to the left, where Kamada is there to meet it on the volley — but hits it straight at the goalkeeper.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
This train of thought quickly gets lost in the sauce as the topic frustratingly switches back to Shamea and her job with the NBA.
—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
By default, the SL3-P automatically switches between the rear LCD and EVF using an eye sensor, and goes to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2026
The study points to a protein called HDAC3, which switches certain genes on and off to keep the lining sturdy.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
The frozen vine at The Third Door Marietta’s The Third Door switches up the seasons with menus that are always remarkable.
—
Angela Hansberger,
AJC.com,
21 June 2026
When using a device like an iPhone, a child switches tasks every 65 seconds on average, training their brains to expect constant novelty.
—
Kira Willey,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Over the summer, Lawrence, like other college cities, switches from the liveliness of young students to the day-to-day of residents who have made a life there.
—
Pj Green
june 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Noun
From the 2002 through 2018 World Cups, the number of nationality switches hovered in the 70s and 80s for the 32-team tournament.
—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 July 2026
Intelligent power switches can monitor electrical flow while controlling loads more efficiently.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 July 2026
As software becomes easier to build, the market will be flooded with more apps, switches and platforms.
—
Michael Wright,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
At least 28 states, including California and Indiana, have prohibited the ownership and use of Glock switches in specific laws, according to a count by Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit gun control organization.
—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
But besides hotel coffee makers and practically anything in a bathroom, other notoriously contaminated hotel surfaces include telephones, light switches, refrigerator handles, coffee mugs, and doorknobs.
—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2026
The nanometer, an atomic-scale unit of measurement, doesn't refer to the literal size of chips or their components, but to how densely transistors -- the tiny electronic switches that make up processors -- can be packed together.
—
CBS News,
25 June 2026
When a sports team or federation switches licensing partners, there’s typically a sell-through period that allows the prior partner to move unsold inventory amid the transition.
—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
24 June 2026
Rather abruptly, the location changes and the mood switches to darkness in another part of the planet as key villain Krem (who seems to use the same stylist as Pinhead and is played by Matthias Schoenaerts) arrives and murders the parents of 13-year-old Ruthye (Eve Ridley).
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switches
Verb
-
As its name suggests, the 9060 Mule trims down the sneaker from its usual height, removes the heel in favor of a backless look with an adjustable support strap and swaps out materials for an even more breathable summertime build.
-
When the response comes back, the gateway swaps the tokens back with the original real values.
Verb
-
The music is loose and spacious, billowing like fabric that flaps at the slightest breeze.
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.
Verb
-
Below the dash, the center console is simplified with a small panel of control buttons, a wireless phone charge pad, cup holders and an arm rest that hides a bit of storage space.
-
Other supplements come in gelatin capsules, made from collagen derived from cow and pig bones and hides, or mixed with dairy binders such as lactose and sodium caseinate.
Verb
-
That reverses a downtrend in April and May, when volume fell.
-
The move reverses Roberts’ purchase of NBCUniversal in 2011 — a bold bet that created a behemoth with popular programming and cable pipes to pump that content into consumer homes.
Verb
-
Food stands also debuted that year, with ribs sizzling along with the blues licks.
-
At one point in a dinner scene, Shields' Erika licks Joey's fingers.
Noun
-
The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes.
-
In grainy videos, marchers, sometimes draped in South African flags and carrying clubs and leather whips, smashed shop windows and beat migrants in the streets.
Noun
-
The design of this weather cover could not be closer to the flying saucer designs that have flown across screens in sci-fi flicks for the 1950s and '60s to today.
-
This kinda got buried with a bad release date by Neon just as audiences were seeing other indie flicks instead like Obsession and Backrooms.
Noun
-
Rey exploded on Ethan with 10-count punches, but a tilt-a-whirl was countered by Page with a sitout faceplant.
-
Members of Rita's loyalty program who use the Rita’s Ice app will get double loyalty punches with a purchase of the treat.
Cite this Entry
“Switches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switches. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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