flog

verb

ˈfläg 

flogged; flogging

transitive verb

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

b

: sell sense 7

traveled by horse, flogging encyclopedias

—Robert Darnton

flogging wares at the local discount outlet

—Ronald Henkoff

c

: to promote aggressively : plug

flying around the world flogging your movies

—Peter Bogdanovich

4

British : steal sense 1

intransitive verb

1

: flap, flutter

sails flogging

2

British : to move along with difficulty : slog

flogger noun

Synonyms

• birch
• cowhide
• flagellate
• flail
• hide
• horsewhip
• lash
• leather
• rawhide
• scourge
• slash
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• whale
• whip

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

Eriksen has already been severely flogged and beaten by De Schinkel’s brutish cohorts Bondo (Thomas W. Gabrielsson) and Paulli (Soren Malling). —James Verniere, Boston Herald, 2 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

perhaps modification of Latin flagellare to whip — more at flagellate

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing flog

• flog a dead horse

Kids Definition

flog

verb

ˈfläg 

flogged; flogging

: to beat severely with or as if with a rod or whip

flogger noun