toss

verb

ˈtȯs How to pronounce toss (audio)
Definition of tossnext
1
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the boat tossed to and fro in the heavy seas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep in the heat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm toss that football over here

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4
as in to discard
to get rid of as useless or unwanted we need to go through the basement and toss whatever we don't use

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word toss distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of toss are cast, fling, hurl, pitch, sling, and throw. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to toss?

In some situations, the words cast and toss are roughly equivalent. However, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for toss?

The meanings of fling and toss largely overlap; however, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When might hurl be a better fit than toss?

While in some cases nearly identical to toss, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

In what contexts can pitch take the place of toss?

Although the words pitch and toss have much in common, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When is sling a more appropriate choice than toss?

While the synonyms sling and toss are close in meaning, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When could throw be used to replace toss?

The words throw and toss are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

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 toss The players and their families have been known to toss it in the air and make confetti angels. —Donna Gordon Blankinship, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026 Just toss a handful in halfway through cooking your eggs, stirring well to distribute the greens evenly. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026 Perhaps this is the hardest thing for gardeners to do, but toss the plants and keep the pot. —Tom MacKlin, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026 The players and their families have been known to toss it in the air and make confetti angels. —Donna Gordon Blankinship, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for toss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toss
  1. sway
  2. fidget
  3. throw
  4. discard
  5. lurch
  6. jerk
  7. hurl
  8. dump
Verb
  • Across from the San Francisco Giants’ home base of Oracle Park, the audience swayed to British singer-songwriter Oliva Dean’s R&B-infused serenades at The One Party by Uber at Pier 48.
    — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • And that needn’t come from ownership, unless there were financial considerations that swayed the decisions.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of sway
Verb
  • Saturday’s game is also being advertised an autism awareness night, offering earplugs, fidget toys and a sensory break area for fans who plan to attend.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Minimal but purposeful movement, avoiding fidgeting or excessive gestures, shows intention.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of fidget
Verb
  • However, one false move threw her time off enough to keep Johnson in the lead.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The council was established in April 2024, nearly three years after President Jovenel Moïse was killed at his residence, throwing Haiti into widespread upheaval.
    — EVENS SANON, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of throw
Verb
  • Plastic versions are easier to clean, but should be discarded if cracked or damaged.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The products should be discarded.
    — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • When, at my photographer’s request, the president approaches the window of his office to open the blinds, his bodyguard lurches forward to close them.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.
    — Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of lurch
Verb
  • The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.
    — Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • Bondi had a binder at the ready of stats and crime summaries ready to hurl at lawmakers during the contentious hearing, but members are unnerved that DOJ apparently tracked their searches to have at the ready.
    — The Hill, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Hat trick's special place in hockey In hockey, a hat trick not only refers to scoring three goals or more in a single game, but it's often followed by spectators hurling their beanies, caps and other headwear onto the rink.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of hurl
Verb
  • As most Chicagoans aware of the history of the civil rights movement know all too well, an all-white, all-male jury acquitted the two men of killing the Black teenager from Chicago and dumping his body in the river.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The mobsters turned the van around, pulled off the highway and dumped Gasso in a patch of poison ivy along the Connecticut River in Wethersfield.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of dump

Phrases Containing toss

Browse Nearby Words

tosh
toss
toss (down or off)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toss. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on toss

Nglish: Translation of toss for Spanish Speakers

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