whipsawed; whipsawing; whipsaws
1
: to saw with a whipsaw
2
: to beset or victimize in two opposite ways at once, by a two-phase operation, or by the collusive action of two opponents
wage earners were whipsawed by inflation and high taxes
Did you know?
A whipsaw is a type of hand-powered saw worked by two people, one of whom stands on or above the log being sawed and the other below it, usually in a pit. The tool dates back to the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th century that anyone thought to use the saw's name figuratively to describe situations in which someone or something is doubly "cut," or hurt. Today, the word is commonly used when discussing financial crises or losses as well as ideological changes (as in government policy) that might "cut."
Examples of whipsaw in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
David Garfield, Harvard Business Review, 30 Sep. 2024
The economic whipsaw of the past four years has left many consumers and businesses struggling with both high prices and elevated borrowing costs, even as the Fed's rate hikes have helped cool inflation to 2.5% in August on an annual basis, close to the central bank's 2% target.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2024
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
In Beijing, Pan faces a daunting array of challenges whipsawing his attention in different, sometimes divergent, directions.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whipsaw 
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Noun
After the big Covid-19 whipsaw, the most obvious forms of supply chain distress started to fade away.
—David Garfield, Harvard Business Review, 30 Sep. 2024
The economic whipsaw of the past four years has left many consumers and businesses struggling with both high prices and elevated borrowing costs, even as the Fed's rate hikes have helped cool inflation to 2.5% in August on an annual basis, close to the central bank's 2% target.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2024
Verb
Barrera also ably keeps the picture’s many tones in check, playing the big emotional moments with just enough humor to keep us from whipsawing from one extreme to another.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
In Beijing, Pan faces a daunting array of challenges whipsawing his attention in different, sometimes divergent, directions.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whipsaw
Dictionary Entries Near whipsaw
Cite this Entry
“Whipsaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whipsaw. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
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