as in dinosaurs
something that is unusually large and powerful
a whale of a pickup truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hits
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in hides
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pounds
to strike repeatedly
mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whales
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Juvenile whales gently nudged the calf and kept it close to the mother.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
The researchers said this suggests the whales were communicating actively to coordinate the birth and protect the newborn.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Although some whales, cicadas, and tree frogs can sing (or seem to sing) too, this ability also belongs to nearly half of all the world’s birds!
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The collision underscores the growing battle in the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean over the future of Antarctic krill, a shrimplike crustacean central to the diet of whales and critical buffer to global warming that's also in demand for use in health supplements, fishmeal and other products.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
According to the Marine Mammal Commission, the most recent population estimates show there are only 51 Rice’s whales remaining.
—Dan Peck, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Groups have sued in recent years, aiming to reduce boat traffic speeds in the area that can strike and kill Rice’s whales and restrict seismic air gun activity that can interfere with whale navigation and communication.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Center for Biological Diversity estimated that the Deepwater Horizon disaster harmed or killed more than eighty thousand birds, six thousand sea turtles, and twenty-five thousand dolphins and whales.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Juvenile whales gently nudged the calf and kept it close to the mother.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
The researchers said this suggests the whales were communicating actively to coordinate the birth and protect the newborn.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Although some whales, cicadas, and tree frogs can sing (or seem to sing) too, this ability also belongs to nearly half of all the world’s birds!
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The collision underscores the growing battle in the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean over the future of Antarctic krill, a shrimplike crustacean central to the diet of whales and critical buffer to global warming that's also in demand for use in health supplements, fishmeal and other products.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
According to the Marine Mammal Commission, the most recent population estimates show there are only 51 Rice’s whales remaining.
—Dan Peck, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Groups have sued in recent years, aiming to reduce boat traffic speeds in the area that can strike and kill Rice’s whales and restrict seismic air gun activity that can interfere with whale navigation and communication.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whales
Noun
-
If the dinosaurs and woolly mammoths that once roamed the Earth had since crumbled into dust, then what hope was there for humanity?—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Birds are thought to have descended from carnivorous dinosaurs that began growing feathers by the Late Jurassic Period; thus, birds are technically one lineage of reptiles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On a day when balls were not leaving the yard and hits to the warning track were rare, the Cubs still thrived.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Trash truck hits a resident’s vehicle – $47,000 The Board of Estimates approved a $47,000 settlement for Donald Stepp after a Department of Public Works trash truck struck his vehicle on Dundalk Avenue in February 2023.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Seize Qeshm Island, where Iran hides its anti-ship missiles and mines.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The right edge hides a USB-C charging port behind a thick gasket.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And American tech giants like Amazon, OpenAI and Microsoft see the Gulf states’ abundant and cheap energy and vast land as key to their AI infrastructure buildouts.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Rioux is two inches taller than former NBA giants Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and three inches taller than popular big men Yao Ming, Tacko Fall and Shawn Bradley.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While the woman’s wrists are being held to her sides, Lentz punches her several times, the video shows.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Soundcore 2 is a compact classic that punches well above its weight class with 12W of power and dual neodymium drivers.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whales. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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