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
Noun
They gave the sailor 50 lashes for disobeying orders.
The disobedient sailors were threatened with the lash.
Recent Examples on the Web
Philip Elliott, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Rapinoe, justifiably hurt and angered by Albert, lashed out on Instagram.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
But with pandemic-era federal aid exhausted, commercial vacancies lashing revenue and expenses growing at a far faster rate, Bowser administration officials said the city was staring down a $4 billion budget hole through fiscal 2029, including a $700 million shortfall this year.
—Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Texas’ controversial immigration law Mexico’s president lashes out over Texas law that would target migrants at the border.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
But those were blips for a couple who have always been seen as more willing to play the game than Harry and Meghan: rarely voicing their opinions, and seeking to control the press and public narrative rather than lashing out against it so openly.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Ahmed began lashing out at friends, relatives, and even Jihan.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
The first goal of the night was a microcosm of Mbappé’s skillset – exploding down the left side of the pitch before bamboozling his defender with some quick feet before lashing it across goal into the bottom corner in the 15th minute.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
Nearly a foot of snow will pile up in some areas, while rain is slated to lash the northern coast of California.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024
Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Organic Castor Oil TikTokers also say that castor oil is a great (but unofficial) lash serum.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Traditional mascaras tend to feel quite heavy on my fine lash hairs.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
With her velvety turquoise skin (or, as more prosaic sorts might call it, upholstery), oversize maw (with rounded white teeth positioned between the cushions) and circular eyes with curling lashes, Chairry was an important precursor to Barney, the singing dinosaur who emerged six years later.
—Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
According to Di Meo, this formula is also super easy to build and perfect for creating lash looks that are weightless with volume no matter your lash type.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
Her bowl cut and Twiggy-like lashes era was one for the books, too.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
The formula fully coats each lash without smudging or clumping.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Guests can also opt for lash applications, waxing, hair cutting and coloring, microblading, hair extensions, and professional styling from the capable salon staff.
—Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
Hardly a day goes by when Trump isn’t lashing out at migrants who come into the United States illegally.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Rapinoe, justifiably hurt and angered by Albert, lashed out on Instagram.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
But with pandemic-era federal aid exhausted, commercial vacancies lashing revenue and expenses growing at a far faster rate, Bowser administration officials said the city was staring down a $4 billion budget hole through fiscal 2029, including a $700 million shortfall this year.
—Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Texas’ controversial immigration law Mexico’s president lashes out over Texas law that would target migrants at the border.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
But those were blips for a couple who have always been seen as more willing to play the game than Harry and Meghan: rarely voicing their opinions, and seeking to control the press and public narrative rather than lashing out against it so openly.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Ahmed began lashing out at friends, relatives, and even Jihan.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
The first goal of the night was a microcosm of Mbappé’s skillset – exploding down the left side of the pitch before bamboozling his defender with some quick feet before lashing it across goal into the bottom corner in the 15th minute.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
Nearly a foot of snow will pile up in some areas, while rain is slated to lash the northern coast of California.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
And this popular lash conditioner by Grande Cosmetics that hardly ever goes on sale is also marked down.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Organic Castor Oil TikTokers also say that castor oil is a great (but unofficial) lash serum.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Traditional mascaras tend to feel quite heavy on my fine lash hairs.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
With her velvety turquoise skin (or, as more prosaic sorts might call it, upholstery), oversize maw (with rounded white teeth positioned between the cushions) and circular eyes with curling lashes, Chairry was an important precursor to Barney, the singing dinosaur who emerged six years later.
—Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
According to Di Meo, this formula is also super easy to build and perfect for creating lash looks that are weightless with volume no matter your lash type.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
Her bowl cut and Twiggy-like lashes era was one for the books, too.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
The formula fully coats each lash without smudging or clumping.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Guests can also opt for lash applications, waxing, hair cutting and coloring, microblading, hair extensions, and professional styling from the capable salon staff.
—Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lash
Cite this Entry
“Lash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lash. Accessed 18 Apr. 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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