as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
unquestionably the company has the whip hand in negotiations with the labor union
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Recent Examples of whip hand
Microsoft’s whip hand, more than anything, else, comes down to cold hard cash.
—
Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023
The failure of the ‘red wave’ to materialize means that an old-fashioned socialist will have the whip hand over health care for the next two years.
—Joel Zinberg, National Review, 30 Nov. 2022
Amazon has been using the cameras to monitor social distancing between workers during the pandemic — just one of the ways in which computers hold the whip hand in this workplace.
—Sarah O'Connor, Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2022
The president will be held responsible for whatever happens, so House Democrats have the whip hand in any negotiation.
—Ryan Cooper, TheWeek, 17 Mar. 2020
In fact, from the start the EU saw itself as holding whip hand in the talks, convinced that a failure, while bad for both sides, would be worse for the Brits.
—Laurence Norman, WSJ, 14 Dec. 2018
Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023
The failure of the ‘red wave’ to materialize means that an old-fashioned socialist will have the whip hand over health care for the next two years.
—Joel Zinberg, National Review, 30 Nov. 2022
Amazon has been using the cameras to monitor social distancing between workers during the pandemic — just one of the ways in which computers hold the whip hand in this workplace.
—Sarah O'Connor, Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2022
The president will be held responsible for whatever happens, so House Democrats have the whip hand in any negotiation.
—Ryan Cooper, TheWeek, 17 Mar. 2020
In fact, from the start the EU saw itself as holding whip hand in the talks, convinced that a failure, while bad for both sides, would be worse for the Brits.
—Laurence Norman, WSJ, 14 Dec. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whip hand
Noun
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At stake is the Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best overall record, home-field advantage in the playoffs and a berth in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
All right, maybe not everything, but investors have been blessed with an abundance of advantages and good fundamental fortune, along with the policy help the market both hoped for and expected.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Parsons has been one of the better edge rushers in the league, posting double-digit sacks in each of his first four seasons in the NFL.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Rooms pair comfort with modern design and a hint of cool-kid edge, featuring warm wood bedframes, terrazzo slabs, and leather seating.—
Emily Wilson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Those deep ties might give EssilorLuxottica or L’Oréal an upper hand compared to LVMH.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Northern Sea Route is generally viewed as more developed and regulated, with Moscow investing heavily in infrastructure as part of a broader campaign to gain an upper hand in the Arctic.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whip hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whip%20hand. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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