flagellate

verb

ˈfla-jə-ˌlāt How to pronounce flagellate (audio)
Definition of flagellatenext
as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible some medieval monks believed it was necessary to flagellate themselves in order to keep their desires in check

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 flagellate His only way of finding any kind of life for himself is to embrace evil, to stop running away from it, to try to stop morally flagellating himself. — Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026 Please, more of Isabella lightly teasing Marty about his tendency to flagellate himself while considering the agony of the human condition. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025 In recent times, the series has been painstakingly flagellating itself for the past. — Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025 Stephens would do well to stop flagellating himself and the Never Trumpers and instead join democracy advocates in defending the rule of law in a dangerous new world. — Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flagellate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagellate
  1. whip
  2. hide
  3. slash
  4. horsewhip
  5. lash
  6. leather
  7. flail
  8. flog
Verb
  • Ella Langley continues to whip fans into a frenzy on social media.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of whip
Verb
  • Dress up your table for your next dinner party with these linen placemats, or hide away blankets, books, and other clutter in this coffee table with secret storage.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the park’s makeup team constructed prosthetic eyelashes that hide a rice-sized LED light that hangs in front of the performer’s eyes.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Labor Department revisions slashed another 103,000 jobs from May and June payrolls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Trump doubled down on that irresponsible strategy, and slashed the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of slash
Verb
  • In reality, Watson wasn’t a bar fighter or famous for horsewhipping cowboys.
    — Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian, 12 Mar. 2018
Definition of horsewhip
Verb
  • In the same series of Sunday morning posts, the president also lashed out at Kristen Welker, the moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, for saying his endorsements of Republican candidates in primary elections this year had shown mixed results.
    — Jeff Mason, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • One of the most famously arid national landmarks succumbed to deadly flash flooding over the weekend, leaving at least one person dead and more than a dozen unaccounted for as more rain could lash Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on Monday.
    — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of lash
Verb
  • There was lace everywhere and leather too.
    — Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • From Ikebana studios in Kyoto to leather workshops in Florence and tartan looms in Stirling, a growing number of trips now build entire itineraries around a single craft.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
Definition of leather
Verb
  • Her arms and legs flailing, the infant falls silent, according to the arrest report.
    — Jane Park, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Top McCain-Palin aides later acknowledged that backlash to the Couric interview, as well as Palin's flailing performance in other sit-downs, influenced the campaign's trajectory.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of flail
Verb
  • One of her biggest gripes is how often the beauty industry flogs acidic products to control oil production when women are experiencing hormonal imbalance.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The 1986 theatrical movie boldly killed off many of the franchise's most iconic characters in a bid to flog more toys.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of flog

Browse Nearby Words

flag
flagellate
flagellated
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Cite this Entry

“Flagellate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagellate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flagellate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flagellate

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