Whip — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈ(h)wip/

Meaning & Definition of Whip

Whip (verb)

  1. to take, pull, snatch, jerk, or otherwise move very quickly and forcefully
  2. to strike with a slender lithe implement (such as a lash or rod) especially as a punishment
  3. spank

Whip (noun)

  1. an instrument consisting usually of a handle and lash forming a flexible rod that is used for whipping
  2. a stroke or cut with or as if with a whip
  3. a dessert made by whipping a portion of the ingredients

Whip (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a long thin or flexible tool for striking

    "a 100-year-old whip that was once used by a coachman"

    similar: flogger, lash, scourge, switch
    related: birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap, bastinado, bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

Whip (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

    "whipped the animal when it did not move fast enough to please him"

    similar: birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whale
    related: knout, quirt, strap, cut, flick, touch up, blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate, pistol-whip, bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib (British), hammer, lace, lambaste, lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop, whup, work over

  2. to defeat by a large margin

    "we whipped them 13-0 in the last game"

    similar: annihilate, blow away, bomb, bury, clobber, cream, drub, dust, flatten, paste, rout, shellac, skin, skunk, smoke (slang), smother, snow under, thrash, trim, tromp, trounce, wallop, wax (slang), whomp, whop, whup, beat the pants off, eat alive, run circles around, wipe the floor with
    related: sweep, upset, beat, best, conquer, dispatch, hurdle, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), subdue, surmount, take, throw, triumph (over), win (against), worst, crush, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, overwhelm, subjugate, upend, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, break, destroy, do in, finish, sink, slaughter

  3. to change the course or direction of (something)

    "any more complaints and I'm whipping this car around and heading back home"

    similar: deflect, divert, redirect, swing, turn, veer, wheel
    related: avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, shunt, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer, swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag, bend, curve, sway, reverse, turn back

  4. to move or cause to move with a striking motion

    "her hair whipped in the wind"

    similar: beat, flail, flap, flop, flutter
    related: bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump, flick, flicker, flit, fan, oscillate, sway, swing, undulate, wave, palpitate, pulse, throb

  5. to strike repeatedly

    "huge raindrops whipped the windows"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

Related Entry: Whip (up) (verb)

Whip (up) is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for whip (up), not for whip.

  1. to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

    "whipped up protests against the proposed amendment to the state's constitution"

    similar: abet, brew, ferment, foment, incite, instigate, pick, provoke, raise, stir (up), set in motion
    related: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, sow, stimulate, detonate, set, set off, trigger, excite, galvanize, inflame, inspire, motivate, rouse, activate, energize, enliven, fire, invigorate, jazz (up), liven (up), pep (up), quicken, vitalize
    near: bridle, check, constrain, curb, discourage, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, tame, allay, calm, quiet, settle, soothe, still, subdue, tranquilize

Related Entry: Whip hand (noun)

Whip hand is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for whip hand, not for whip.

  1. the more favorable condition or position in a competition

    "unquestionably the company has the whip hand in negotiations with the labor union"

    similar: advantage, better, bulge, catbird seat, drop, edge, high ground, inside track, jump, pull, stead, upper hand, vantage, coign of vantage
    related: allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin, odds, start, ascendancy, command, dominance, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, transcendency, precedence, preference, prerogative, privilege, seniority, break, foothold, opportunity, benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, manna, windfall
    opposite: disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike
    near: detriment, stranglehold, disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness, disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming, bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel, lurch, setback

Related Entry: Whip hands (noun)

Whip hands is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for whip hands, not for whip.

  1. the more favorable condition or position in a competition

    "unquestionably the company has the whip hand in negotiations with the labor union"

    similar: advantages, betters, bulges, catbird seats, drops, edges, high grounds, inside tracks, jumps, pulls, steads, upper hands, vantages, coigns of vantage
    related: allowances, head starts, leads, legs up, margins, odds, starts, ascendancies, commands, dominances, masteries, predominances, superiorities, supremacies, transcendences, transcendencies, precedences, preferences, prerogatives, privileges, seniorities, breaks, footholds, opportunities, benefits, blessings, boons, felicities, godsends, mannas, windfalls
    opposite: disadvantages, drawbacks, handicaps, liabilities, minuses, penalties, strikes
    near: detriments, strangleholds, disparities, imbalances, inequalities, disabilities, failings, impairments, shortcomings, bars, catches, checks, clogs, crimps, embarrassments, hindrances, hitches, hurdles, impediments, interferences, lets, manacles, obstacles, obstructions, rubs, shackles, stops, trammels, lurches, setbacks

Related Entry: Pistol-whip (verb)

Pistol-whip is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for pistol-whip, not for whip.

  1. as in horsewhip, flagellate

    similar: blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, rawhide, scourge, strap, assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, gore, lacerate, wound, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, maim, mangle, mutilate

Related Entry: Crack (verb)

Crack is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for crack, not for whip.

  1. to break suddenly with an explosive sound

    "the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight"

    similar: pop, snap
    related: rend, rive, split, crackle, hiss, sizzle, sputter, burst, explode, shatter, clack, clatter, click

  2. to yield to mental or emotional stress

    "after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession"

    similar: break down, break up, flip (out) (slang), freak (out), melt down, wig (out) (slang), blow one's cool, fall apart, go off the deep end, go to pieces, lose it
    related: choke

  3. to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language

    "the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it"

    similar: break, decipher, decode, decrypt
    related: descramble, unscramble, render, translate, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out
    opposite: cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt
    near: garble, jumble (up), mix (up)

  4. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one on
    related: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull

  5. to find an answer for through reasoning

    "I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it"

    similar: answer, break, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), resolve, riddle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out
    related: conclude, decide, deduce, gather, infer, judge, reason, clear (up), iron out, straighten (out), unscramble, untangle, untie, assume, conjecture, divine, guess, presume, speculate, decipher, decode

  6. to cause to go insane or as if insane

    "cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently"

    similar: craze, derange, frenzy, loco, madden, unbalance, unhinge, unstring
    related: agitate, bother, confuse, discompose, disquiet, distract, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, annoy, irritate, vex
    near: calm, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize

Related Entry: Crack (on) (verb)

Crack (on) is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for crack (on), not for whip.

  1. to proceed or move quickly

    "the postman cracked on in an effort to get the mail delivered on time"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Related Entry: Whipper (noun)

Whipper is a different word from Whip. The synonyms below are for whipper, not for whip.

  1. one that defeats an enemy or opponent

    "as the whippers of teams from much larger schools, our players have much to be proud of"

    similar: beater, conqueror, master, subduer, trimmer, vanquisher, victor, winner
    related: champ, champion, finalist, placer, dominator, overdog, ruler, subjugator, top dog
    opposite: loser
    near: punching bag, pushover, quitter, failure, flop, washout, underdog

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Whip

The most common words with a similar meaning to Whip:

Slang: smoke, wax
British: fib
flogger, lash, scourge, switch, birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, leather, rawhide, slash, tan, thrash, whale, annihilate, blow away, bomb, bury, clobber, cream, drub, dust, flatten, paste, rout, shellac, skin, skunk, smother, snow under, trim, tromp, trounce, wallop, whomp, whop, whup

Related Words for Whip

blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, strap, bastinado, baton, billy, billy club, cane, cudgel, nightstick, staff, cut, flick, touch up, blackjack, fustigate, pistol-whip, bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clout

Word Forms of Whip

Inflections: whipped, whipping

Derived words: whipper (noun), whiplike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Whip

Middle English wippen, whippen; akin to Middle Dutch wippen to move up and down, sway, Old English wīpian to wipe

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Whip

Words & Phrases Containing Whip

whip antenna, whip hand, whip in, whip into shape, whip-round, whip scorpion, whip-smart, whip stall

Frequently Asked Questions about Whip

What does "Whip" mean?

"Whip" means to take, pull, snatch, jerk, or otherwise move very quickly and forcefully. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to take, pull, snatch, jerk, or otherwise move very quickly and forcefully. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Whip"?

Other words for "Whip" include flogger, lash, scourge, switch, birch, cowhide, flagellate and flail. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Whip" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Whip"?

There are 240 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Whip". Common alternatives include flogger, lash, scourge, switch, birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog and hide.

How do you use "Whip" in a sentence?

Examples of "Whip" in a sentence: "a 100-year-old whip that was once used by a coachman"; "whipped the animal when it did not move fast enough to please him"; "we whipped them 13-0 in the last game".

Is "Whip" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Whip" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Whip" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Whip" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Whip"?

"Whip" is pronounced /ˈ(h)wip/.

What is the origin of the word "Whip"?

"Whip" comes from Middle English wippen, whippen; akin to Middle Dutch wippen to move up and down, sway, Old English wīpian to wipe. First known use: 14th centuryt.