flogged; flogging
1
a
: to beat with or as if with a rod or whip
The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny.
b
: to criticize harshly
He was flogged in the press for failing to take action.
2
: to force or urge into action : drive
3
a
chiefly British
: to sell (something, such as stolen goods) illegally
flogged their employers' petrol to ordinary motorists—
Economist
Economist
b
: sell sense 7
traveled by horse, flogging encyclopedias—Robert Darnton
Robert Darntonflogging wares at the local discount outlet—Ronald Henkoff
Ronald Henkoff
c
: to promote aggressively : plug
flying around the world flogging your movies—Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich4
British
: steal sense 1
flogger
noun
Synonyms
Examples of flog in a Sentence
The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny.
a graphic depiction of a sailor being flogged by the captain for disobeying orders
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of these promotions are simply flogging pro-MAGA paraphernalia.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024
One man from the Bajrang Dal holds him by the collar of his torn gray shirt while Premi flogs him with a belt, displaying no hesitation.
—Mohammad Ali, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2020
In May, the filmmaker escaped to Europe after receiving sentence of jail and flogging from the Iranian authorities.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
On this day in 1850: The U.S. Navy officially abolished flogging as a form of punishment through an act of Congress, which was signed into law by President Millard Fillmore.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flog 
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David Gilbert, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024
One man from the Bajrang Dal holds him by the collar of his torn gray shirt while Premi flogs him with a belt, displaying no hesitation.
—Mohammad Ali, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2020
In May, the filmmaker escaped to Europe after receiving sentence of jail and flogging from the Iranian authorities.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
On this day in 1850: The U.S. Navy officially abolished flogging as a form of punishment through an act of Congress, which was signed into law by President Millard Fillmore.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flog
Dictionary Entries Near flog
Cite this Entry
“Flog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flog. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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