whipsaw

1 of 2

noun

whip·saw ˈ(h)wip-ˌsȯ

: a narrow pit saw averaging 5 to 7¹/₂ feet (1.5 to 2.3 meters) in length

whipsaw

2 of 2

verb

whipsawed; whipsawing; whipsaws

transitive verb

: to saw with a whipsaw

: 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

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Noun

In southeastern Utah, the whipsaw of American politics is playing out on the ground, frustrating everyone, and with no end in sight. —

Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025 However, economists warn that this metric whipsaws, and in this case, shifting the time span by just one month inverts the finding. —

Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Apr. 2024

Verb

The concern is borne out of the weather extremes that have whipsawed California in recent years: Punishing heat and dry conditions extending well into the fall, followed by intense rain like the series of atmospheric river systems that pummeled the state in November. —

Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 2 Jan. 2025 Shares of Nvidia whipsawed Thursday and most recently were up 1%. —

Samantha Subin, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whipsaw