thrash

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word thrash distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of thrash are brandish, flourish, swing, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

When can brandish be used instead of thrash?

While the synonyms brandish and thrash are close in meaning, brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

When would flourish be a good substitute for thrash?

The words flourish and thrash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

When might swing be a better fit than thrash?

Although the words swing and thrash have much in common, swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

Where would wave be a reasonable alternative to thrash?

In some situations, the words wave and thrash are roughly equivalent. However, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

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 thrash Magnuson continued swinging at the officer’s face and thrashing his legs as the officer tried to get control of his arms. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2025 Japan Demolish Australian Defense Before the USA vs Colombia match, Japan faced Australia in the tournament opener, thrashing the Matildas 4-0. Manasi Pathak, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025 In December, Como defeated Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, and Premier League winner Ranieri addressed his upcoming challenge immediately after his side thrashed Monza on Monday. David Ferrini, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 This was the same Lille team who had beaten Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid and thrashed Feyenoord 6-1 en route to securing direct qualification for the Champions League last 16. Tom Williams, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thrash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrash
Verb
  • Play defense straight up and Bueckers will bury them.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The structure is made of opus reticulatum—bricks laid in a diamond pattern—and contains a volcanic rock called tuff: details suggesting high status individuals were buried here, as Artnet News’ Richard Whiddington reports.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Take it from us and whip out this gem for special occasions versus everyday wear, as Gucci recommends shielding it from direct light, heat, and rain.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In the early hours of April 21, 1775, gale-force winds whipped across the town square, driving the shivering sentries from their posts to the shelter of their beds.
    Andrew Lawler, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The race is being widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats who at the national level are still licking their 2024 election wounds, as well as a potential referendum on Trump and Musk.
    Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Cora appears to enjoy the routine and happily lets the cat lick at the tufts of blonde hair on her head.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Simpson visited the Menendez family’s home in the 1970s, even tossing a football with Lyle in the backyard.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The footage, captured at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, allegedly showed Ventura walking toward a bank of elevators as Combs chased after her, then grabbing her by the neck and tossing her to the floor before turning to violently kick her and grab her purse and suitcase.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Her defense has raised the possibility that someone else beat him to death and left him in the cold.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Her decision to turn down the Apple beat at the Journal in 2007, the year the iPhone was released, in order to pursue an M.F.A. in fiction propels an exploration of how much human creativity depends on the ideas and labor of others.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Because the kitchen is visible from the living and dining areas, Allison downplayed the utilitarian stuff, tucking the stainless-steel refrigerator behind a wall and hiding the range behind the island.
    Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The shooter behind the 2023 Nashville elementary school attack that killed six people, including three children, had been obsessively planning it for years while hiding mental health issues from family and doctors, a police report released Wednesday reveals.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • However, Cabello lashed out at U.S. authorities, accusing them of unjustly detaining and deporting Venezuelans under false claims of gang affiliations.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In early March, tropical storm Alfred battered Australia’s heavily populated east coast, lashing the region with damaging winds and heavy rain for several days as hundreds of thousands of homes in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales lost power.
    Edward Szekeres and Helen Regan, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For example, dogs who love running might be twitching their paws while dreaming.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Thrash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrash. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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