whale 1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wāl How to pronounce whale (audio)
Definition of whalenext
as in dinosaur
something that is unusually large and powerful a whale of a pickup truck

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whale

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it

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3
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse

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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 whale
Noun
His job included photographing whale tails to identify individual animals and monitor their movements. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 The three whales relocated to San Diego will raise the park’s number of belugas to six. — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 It was created in 1982 amid concern that the rapidly expanding krill fishery could remove too much food from penguins, seals, whales and other predators. — Kim S. Bernard, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 The whales’ arrival in northern Peru aligns perfectly with peak surf season at surf destinations like Órganos and Máncora, which tend to see reliable waves from May to October. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whale
  1. dinosaur
  2. hit
  3. hide
  4. lick
  5. giant
  6. punch
  7. whip
  8. pound
Noun
  • Hathaway plays a suburban mom whose neighborhood is suddenly and mysteriously transported from 1982 to prehistoric times, putting family and neighbors at the mercy of hungry dinosaurs.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The real end of Oak Street comes not from the feet and chompers of the dinosaurs but from a moviemaker who revives the idyllic 1980s only to desecrate them with wokeness.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Verb
  • Moehrig responded with 103 tackles — one off his 2024 total — while establishing career highs with 14 tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hits.
    — Joseph Person, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The height of hurricane season looms, and Gulf Coast refineries have in the past been derailed by major hurricanes hitting the Gulf Coast.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • His brother was stuffing bricks of cash in multiple places and would even wrap the money in plastic before hiding it in spaghetti sauce jars.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Paul Robinson is accused of hiding a safe containing drugs and cash.
    — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of hide
Verb
  • Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Photos like the one below show children licking massive ice blocks for a slight reprieve from the summer heat.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of lick
Noun
  • At that point, the Spanish club was confident he would soon be snapped up by one of the game’s giants for mega money, so was happy to play the long game.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Since 2022, the first full year that both models were put in production, the auto giant has sold at least roughly 120,000 examples of each per year.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of giant
Verb
  • The student also punched the guard in the head, according to the statement.
    — Kathy McCormack, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The 49ers’ defensive highlight came when Warner, of course, punched a ball free from tight end David Njoku.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of punch
Verb
  • If a recipe calls for 1 cup (unwhipped) whipping cream, substitute 2 cups whipped dessert topping, such as Cool Whip.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The first drops of espresso are vigorously whipped with sugar into a thick espumita froth inside the cup, before the rest is poured in, causing the caramelly-brown foam to rise to the top.
    — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of whip
Verb
  • Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jay Lucarelli, 31, sat with his MacBook at the kitchen table in his mother’s home in Jackson Township, Ohio, pounding fastballs and energy drinks.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pound

Browse Nearby Words

whacks
whale
whaleboat
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Cite this Entry

“Whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whale. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whale

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whale

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