thrash

Definition of thrashnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word thrash distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of thrash are brandish, flourish, swing, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

When can brandish be used instead of thrash?

While the synonyms brandish and thrash are close in meaning, brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

When would flourish be a good substitute for thrash?

The words flourish and thrash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

When might swing be a better fit than thrash?

Although the words swing and thrash have much in common, swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

Where would wave be a reasonable alternative to thrash?

In some situations, the words wave and thrash are roughly equivalent. However, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

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 thrash The Sharks were hoping to bounce back from their most lopsided loss of the season, a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2025 Germany clinched its spot in the World Cup by thrashing Slovakia 6-0. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 2025 The 16-year-old flails her arms, thrashes and kicks — sometimes for hours. Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025 However, if the prey was stuck in the web and struggling (thrashing about), the stabilimenta successfully transmitted the alarm to a wider area of the web. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thrash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrash
Verb
  • Only one body was identified by a family, while the others were buried on Friday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • In a report published this month in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, a team from the Australian National University examined the tooth enamel of three individuals buried at the Dong Xa Iron Age burial site in Northern Vietnam.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • It’s inspired by a French silk pie, but without any eggs to whip.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
  • For season 1 of The Boss, InStyle Editor in Chief Sally Holmes taps Julia Fox (Uncut Gems, Him, The Moment) as the Temporary-Permanent Ambassador of Slayage in an effort to whip the InStyle team’s style into shape ahead of New York Fashion Week.
    InStyle Editors, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
  • England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.
    Sam Dalling, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Once made of glass and cherished by parade spectators who were lucky enough to catch them, today cheap plastic beaded necklaces from overseas are tossed from floats by the handful.
    TRAVIS LOLLER, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The military stomp of the score is so tied up in the conception of Superman as an ultra-powerful Eagle Scout that the theme had to be tossed entirely when directors wanted to add a few layers of grime onto the character in the 2010s.
    Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Behind forceful nights from Nic Claxton, who scored a career-high 28 points, and Noah Clowney, who added 22, and with three rookies taking full advantage of their minutes, the Nets found just enough offense to beat the Chicago Bulls 123-115 at Barclays Center.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The beating heart of space is the custom charcoal grille, which took six months to build just for the new locale.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This means that bills get hearings, debates happen in public, and legislators are required to vote on issues instead of hiding behind process.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Maybe Mark Kelly and several other dissident members of Congress are hiding the sun in a big bag.
    Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Trump later lashed out in response to Carney’s speech.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Hard Truths premiered at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival and followed Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Pansy, an angry and depressed woman who lashes out at family and strangers, and whose constant criticism slowly isolates her.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Baby Briana’s arms twitched and legs flopped against cold concrete.
    Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Through the scope, a polar bear twitched on the ice, 25 yards in front of me.
    Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Thrash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrash. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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