THRASH Synonyms: 222 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

thrash

verb

ˈthrash

Definition of thrash

as in to bury

to defeat by a large margin the incumbent has been thrashing his opponents for so long that there's never any real contest for the Senate seat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to whip

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible thrashed the poor horse with a riding crop

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly the tree branches thrashed the sides of the house as the storm continued to rage

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to toss

to make jerky or restless movements in obvious pain, the wounded soldier thrashed about his cot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 All married slap bass to thrash guitar, but if most of their cohort alternated rapping and belting on the vocal front, Primus trotted out Claypool as more of a hyperliterate carnival barker. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026 Then its arms swing harder and its entire body begins thrashing. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 Denis Bouanga scored two goals, Son Heung-min scored in his third consecutive match since the World Cup break, and Los Angeles FC thrashed Sporting Kansas City 4-0 on Saturday night for its fourth consecutive victory. — ABC News, 26 July 2026 Denis Bouanga scored two goals, Son Heung-min scored in his third consecutive match since the World Cup break, and LAFC thrashed Sporting Kansas City 4-0 on Saturday night for its fourth consecutive victory. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for thrash

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrash

Verb

Back in 2015, Parton and her team buried a chestnut box filled with physical copies of a brand new song in two formats, cassette and CD, along with their corresponding players, under her Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Prior research had shown that cotton strips could also be used to assess decomposition, so why not engage in a bit of citizen science and ask volunteers to bury cotton underpants for a couple of months, then dig them up and record the results?

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of bury

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

That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
One act featured two young women sitting on the stage and licking orange Popsicles (yes, that was the whole act).

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of lick

Verb

She had been beaten and stabbed inside her home, and her body was then placed in the trunk of her car.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
Tysie Gallagher, Terri Harper and Caroline Dubois beat Americans Brandi Robinson, Miranda Reyes and Amelia Moore, respectively, earlier in the night, while Reina Tellez defeated Jessica Barry for the United States’ only victory.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of beat

Verb

The expansion will take players to the brand new realm of Letten — an idyllic land of rural tradition that hides a dark secret just below the surface.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to hide his own extremism and Texans will see right through it.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hide

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
Workers lashed the broad branches together with steel cables and chains.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of lash

Verb

The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of twitch

Browse Nearby Words

thralls

thrash

thrashed

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

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Synonyms of thrash

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Synonyms of thrash

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing thrash

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

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Popular in Wordplay

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