whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: something resembling a blow from a whip

the whiplash of fear

—R. S. Banay

3

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.

Recent Examples on the Web

Here, the film starts to pivot in intriguing ways, as Yehuda practically experiences real-time whiplash. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025

Tonally, Kinda Pregnant is inflicting whiplash, hoping to roll raunchy comedy, motherhood real talk, and cute rom-com together. —Madeline Fry Schultz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025

Separately, the last week of geopolitical whiplash found a moment of calm, when the trio of US officials sat before a Saudi flag (with US Middle East Envoy Steven Witkoff on the far left) accepted Europe would be vital moving forwards. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025

The result of such whiplash: People who have experienced the various stages of a Trump relationship often remain tied to him, yet also fearful of his wrath, concluding that praising Trump—or at least staying silent about his shortcomings—is the best survival strategy. —Dan Alexander, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whiplash

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash -ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip- 

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)