1
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the wasp's nest a good whack with the bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
the whack echoed around the field
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
whacked the vending machine to get the candy bar to fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to assassinate
slang
to put to death deliberately
without a second thought the mob boss had them whacked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whack
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
So how much of that is the ball, how much of it is mindset, how much of it is delivery just getting out of whack?
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
Jeff whacked it on the head, then ripped a gill.
—Kim Cross, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whack
Noun
That balance still is somewhat out of whack.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
So how much of that is the ball, how much of it is mindset, how much of it is delivery just getting out of whack?
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
These plays are often brilliant, and even lesser variants are fun to watch, because piñata-whacking itself is a naughty thrill, a cathartic fantasy for anyone with a family and/or a secret.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
Jeff whacked it on the head, then ripped a gill.
—Kim Cross, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whack
Noun
-
Lori’s speech articulates the fundamental twinship of artists and critics—a reality that has always resisted attempts to drive a wedge between the two.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, the case has been tied up in court as Morris and the church attempt to agree on an arbitrator.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In a blow to the fledgling environmental movement, however, a report by Nixon’s science adviser, Lee DuBridge, called for more drilling, not less.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The blow came after the right-hander threw a four-seam fastball that nearly hit Trout’s face.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Swift leaned into the soft romance of her outfit with an undone half-up hairstyle with her signature bangs brushed to the side for a dreamy effect.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Cyrus has kept the spirits high by embodying her beloved character in a series of colorful, sequin, and rhinestone-studded looks on red carpets, even returning to that signature Hannah Montana blonde and set of bangs.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Five pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and allowed just hits for Andrew (4-3).—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Among them was Linda Parker, the president and CEO of Women In Distress of Broward County, who said Metayer’s death hit close to home.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And Israel had been conducting a campaign to assassinate Iranian scientists, which made the prospect of lethal reprisal highly plausible.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Tyler, Andrea’s making the point that on the surface there are talks happening but there are no real direct negotiations at those highest levels, in part because so many people have been assassinated.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sinner broke him in his second try, in the third game of the match.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As psilocybin has become more available, more people are giving retreats like these a try.—
Natalia V. Osipova,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The bearded blueliner has skated through the bumps and bruises that come with delivering checks and deflecting slap shots.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That’s how Larry Graham came up with slap bass.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tears flowed, and the audience held space for grief, offering supportive claps and chants.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
That front will bring a chance of drizzle to the coast, a few claps of thunder to the Sacramento Valley and snow flurries to the Tahoe area.—
Anthony Edwards,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whack. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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