lashed; lashing; lashes
1
: to move violently or suddenly : dash
2
: to thrash or beat violently
rain lashed at the windowpanes
3
: to make a verbal attack or retort
—usually used with out
1
a
: to whip or fling about violently
the big cat lashed its tail about threateningly
b
: to strike or beat with or as if with a whip
waves lashed the shore
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- birch
- cowhide
- flagellate
- flail
- flog
- hide
- horsewhip
- leather
- rawhide
- scourge
- slash
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- whale
- whip
Noun
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of lash in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the cat's tail nervously lashed the table leg
all night long sheets of rain lashed the windows
Noun
They gave the sailor 50 lashes for disobeying orders.
The disobedient sailors were threatened with the lash.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
Following his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump lashed out at ABC over the moderators' fact-checking efforts.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024
Jessica Klein October 30, 2024 8:01 AM EDT Getting lash extensions can be an uncomfortable process, involving lying with tape under your eyes on a bed for two hours.
—Jessica Klein, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lash 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The Owl, the father figure, flies into rages, yelling and occasionally lashing out with a hand or foot.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
Following his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump lashed out at ABC over the moderators' fact-checking efforts.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
This lash serum is formulated with a ton of vitamins, peptides, and other nourishing ingredients.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024
Jessica Klein October 30, 2024 8:01 AM EDT Getting lash extensions can be an uncomfortable process, involving lying with tape under your eyes on a bed for two hours.
—Jessica Klein, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lash
Dictionary Entries Near lash
Cite this Entry
“Lash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lash. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lash
1 of 3 verb1
: to move violently or suddenly
2
: to strike with or as if with a whip
3
: to attack with strong language
—usually used with out
lashed out at his sister
lash
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a stroke with a whip or switch
b
: the flexible part of a whip
also
: whip entry 2 sense 1
2
: a beating, whipping, or driving force
3
: eyelash
lash
3 of 3 verb
: to tie down with a rope, cord, or chain
lasher
noun
Etymology
Verb
Middle English lassen "to move violently or suddenly"
Verb
Middle English lasschen "to lace," from early French lacer (same meaning), derived from Latin laqueare "to snare, catch in a noose," from laqueus "noose, snare" — related to lace, lasso entry 1 see Word History at lace
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