Synonyms of thrash

thrash

verb

ˈthrash 

1

as in to bury

to defeat by a large margin

the incumbent has been thrashing his opponents for so long that there's never any real contest for the Senate seat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

2

as in to whip

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

thrashed the poor horse with a riding crop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

3

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly

the tree branches thrashed the sides of the house as the storm continued to rage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

4

as in to toss

to make jerky or restless movements

in obvious pain, the wounded soldier thrashed about his cot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• toss
• twitch
• fidget
• squirm
• jerk
• twist
• fiddle
• writhe
• wiggle
• shake
• tremble
• shiver
• thresh
• wriggle
• jig
• jiggle
• shudder
• flutter
• flit
• quiver
• squiggle
• quake
• pace
• twitter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• relax
• calm (down)
• unwind
• still

Synonym Chooser

How is the word thrash distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of thrash are brandish, flourish, swing, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

When can brandish be used instead of thrash?

While the synonyms brandish and thrash are close in meaning, brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

When would flourish be a good substitute for thrash?

The words flourish and thrash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

When might swing be a better fit than thrash?

Although the words swing and thrash have much in common, swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

Where would wave be a reasonable alternative to thrash?

In some situations, the words wave and thrash are roughly equivalent. However, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of thrash

To make matters worse, Celtic enters Europa League play following a 3-0 thrashing by archrival Rangers over the weekend. — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Tourism officials are asking visitors to steer clear of one of Hawaii's most picturesque islands as residents and businesses work to recover from the latest tropical storm to thrash the state. — Gene Johnson, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026

Tourism officials are asking visitors to steer clear of one of Hawaii’s most picturesque islands as residents and businesses work to recover from the latest tropical storm to thrash the state. — Gene Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The flooding on the canyon floor started Saturday afternoon after waves of rainfall thrashed Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch – the only lodging under the rim of the Grand Canyon. — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing thrash

• thrash (out)