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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whales
Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
With the storm and dead whales came polar bears.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
His lack of availability, though, has definitely tempered any interest in the trade market with potentially bigger whales to go get.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
An aerial survey team of South Carolina wildlife officials have spotted groups of seven or eight whales socializing, something that hasn’t happened in a while, Thompson of Georgia DNR said.
—Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Humpback whales are known to feed near the surface, especially when chasing schools of herring, which can sometimes bring them close to boats or kayakers.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Ninety million years after our lineages split, humans are beginning to listen to whales in a new way.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The Mendocino Coast is a bustling place in terms of wildlife—think California sea lions, whales, and birds of all sorts, among other creatures.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Canada's last captive whales have received a reprieve from death after the government conditionally approved a plan Monday to export them to the United States.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
The whales are selling up, according to Jefferies analyst Andrew Moss.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
With the storm and dead whales came polar bears.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
His lack of availability, though, has definitely tempered any interest in the trade market with potentially bigger whales to go get.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
An aerial survey team of South Carolina wildlife officials have spotted groups of seven or eight whales socializing, something that hasn’t happened in a while, Thompson of Georgia DNR said.
—Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Humpback whales are known to feed near the surface, especially when chasing schools of herring, which can sometimes bring them close to boats or kayakers.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Ninety million years after our lineages split, humans are beginning to listen to whales in a new way.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The Mendocino Coast is a bustling place in terms of wildlife—think California sea lions, whales, and birds of all sorts, among other creatures.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Canada's last captive whales have received a reprieve from death after the government conditionally approved a plan Monday to export them to the United States.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whales
Noun
-
Tree ferns, survivors from the age of the dinosaurs, towered above.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
From tiny proto‑dinosaurs like Marasuchus to giants like Plateosaurus and Mamenchisaurus, 'The Dinosaurs' runs the gamut, illustrating how dinosaurs evolved across millennia in response to a volatile world.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Quince's version is made with 24 percent spandex for extra stretch and features a high-cut leg that hits just right to cinch your waist.—
Claire Gallam,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Witherspoon was one of the Seahawks’ stars of the game with a sack and two QB hits, one of which led to an interception from Patriots QB Drake Maye.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When season two begins, viewers meet a beautiful young Hispanic woman named Luz (Jeannine Mason), who hides on a boat traveling to a remote island, perhaps in the Caribbean, to make a liquor delivery for a wealthy businessman named Richard Helvig.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There are wool blankets draped atop cow print chairs, lambskin hides on the bar stools and a casual Dom Perignon on the menu.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the present, Simon (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) pounds his car’s steering wheel, driving away from wreckage.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The claw then releases the broken bikes and pounds them down once more for good measure.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Meta was one of the major Big Tech firms that went big on open-sourcing with its Llama model in early 2023, though most US giants have largely eschewed that approach in order to protect their intellectual property.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Tech giants have repeatedly relied on Section 230, a federal law that shields them from liability over content that their users post, as a defense against safety claims.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kingsley Ibeh, right, punches Jarrell Miller during a heavyweight boxing match in New York City on Saturday.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
-
As a point of comparison, the most petite room covers 225 square feet, but still punches above its weight in design.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 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
-
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 16 Feb. 2026.
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