TOSS Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'toss' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of toss are cast , fling , hurl , pitch , sling , and throw . While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion. // tossed the coat on the bed

Q: Where would 'cast' be a reasonable alternative to 'toss'?

In some situations, the words cast and toss are roughly equivalent. However, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering. // cast it to the winds

Q: When would 'fling' be a good substitute for 'toss'?

The meanings of fling and toss largely overlap; however, fling stresses a violent throwing. // flung the ring back in his face

Q: When might 'hurl' be a better fit than 'toss'?

While in some cases nearly identical to toss , hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight. // hurled himself at the intruder

Q: In what contexts can 'pitch' take the place of 'toss'?

Although the words pitch and toss have much in common, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target. // pitch horseshoes

Q: When is 'sling' a more appropriate choice than 'toss'?

While the synonyms sling and toss are close in meaning, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim. // slung the bag over his shoulder

Q: When could 'throw' be used to replace 'toss'?

The words throw and toss are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm. // can throw a fastball and a curve

toss

verb

ˈtȯs

Definition of toss

as in to sway

to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the boat tossed to and fro in the heavy seas

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as in to fidget

to make jerky or restless movements tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep in the heat

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as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm toss that football over here

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as in to discard

to get rid of as useless or unwanted we need to go through the basement and toss whatever we don't use

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word toss distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of toss are cast, fling, hurl, pitch, sling, and throw. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to toss?

In some situations, the words cast and toss are roughly equivalent. However, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for toss?

The meanings of fling and toss largely overlap; however, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When might hurl be a better fit than toss?

While in some cases nearly identical to toss, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

In what contexts can pitch take the place of toss?

Although the words pitch and toss have much in common, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When is sling a more appropriate choice than toss?

While the synonyms sling and toss are close in meaning, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When could throw be used to replace toss?

The words throw and toss are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

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 toss Hard-throwing right-hander Seth Halvorsen tossed a scoreless tenth inning in his Dodgers debut, setting up Max Muncy for a walk-off single in the bottom half of the inning. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Skubal tossed five innings and allowed three runs while scattering four hits, issuing two walks and striking out six batters. — Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 The instant Schwartzel's ball hit the pond, a fish — seemingly a largemouth bass — exploded from the water and gobbled it up like someone had just tossed a topwater lure directly onto its head. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Shorter hemlines may be egging on this summer skin trend, but don’t toss that minidress just yet. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for toss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toss

Verb

There's very little proof that in any election there has been enough absentee ballot fraud to sway a result.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Although his conservative flank has a lock on power, Roberts himself has less sway than ever over an increasingly fractious Court.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of sway

Verb

At about 45 minutes in, guests were looking at their phones and fidgeting in their seats.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 July 2026
A lot of those people have Victoria Baumann and Charlie Moreton to thank, the father-daughter duo behind Victoria Essie Studio that produces fidget toys and other knickknacks out of their homes in North Carolina.

— Jennifer Liu Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 14 June 2026

Definition of fidget

Verb

Back on the job the morning after the alert was lifted, Isidro threw a rope over an avocado tree about 20 feet (6 meters) high and climbed up.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
The quarterback who has thrown Allen the most passes during camp practices — Patrick Mahomes — spent his time Saturday standing on the sideline.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of throw

Verb

Alas, this compact between viewer and moviemaker is discarded in most contemporary comic book movies.

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
While the business of cosmetically modified, futuristic-looking pets remains in its infancy, animal rights groups worry that eventually the creatures will be created, sold and later discarded in crowded municipal shelters.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of discard

Verb

Maresca, though, does not appear to have much taste for the Premier League’s lurch towards balls into the box.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The United States, which had been lurching toward entry in the Second World War, was suddenly and inescapably thrust into global conflict.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of lurch

Verb

Kirk got the win with 5 1/3 innings to beat NorCal in the unofficial state title game in the region opener on Sunday, two days before Martinez hurled a complete-game one-hitter to beat Hawaii in the region semifinal.

— Dennis Pope, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
In the attack on Don Maca a few days later, one of the 20 crew members said the first blast hurled him into the air.

— Michael Rios, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurl

Verb

Forecasters warn Lala could dump up to 25 inches of rain on steep terrain, driving life-threatening flooding, mudslides, storm surge and dangerous surf that imperil rural residents and key agricultural areas.

— Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The storm was expected to dump more than a foot of rain on much of the Big Island, with isolated amounts over 2 feet possible.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of dump

Cite this Entry

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“Toss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toss. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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