as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
some medieval monks believed it was necessary to flagellate themselves in order to keep their desires in check
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flagellate
For Logan, none of these self-flagellating exercises mattered.
—
Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023
One Peruvian candidate has taken time to talk about his habit of wearing a wire chain, known as a cilice, every day to flagellate himself.
—Star Tribune, 8 Apr. 2021
All are said to have had affairs with Lucian Freud (was there anyone who didn’t?), three with Arthur Koestler and one with Egypt’s King Farouk (who liked to flagellate her on the steps of the royal palace with his dressing-gown cord).
—Moira Hodgson, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020
Muslims were mobilizing; once, Mr. Rizvi visited during Muharram, an annual ritual of mourning, and found her surrounded by pilgrims, flagellating themselves with chains to which razor blades had been attached.
—Ellen Barry, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for flagellate
Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023
One Peruvian candidate has taken time to talk about his habit of wearing a wire chain, known as a cilice, every day to flagellate himself.
—Star Tribune, 8 Apr. 2021
All are said to have had affairs with Lucian Freud (was there anyone who didn’t?), three with Arthur Koestler and one with Egypt’s King Farouk (who liked to flagellate her on the steps of the royal palace with his dressing-gown cord).
—Moira Hodgson, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020
Muslims were mobilizing; once, Mr. Rizvi visited during Muharram, an annual ritual of mourning, and found her surrounded by pilgrims, flagellating themselves with chains to which razor blades had been attached.
—Ellen Barry, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for flagellate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagellate
Verb
-
Instead, as Gauff belied her recent struggles on her forehand side by whipping the ball up and down into the court and out of her opponent’s easy reach time and again, Świątek looked adrift.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
After the animal snapped and whipped its tail, Dragich wrangled the gator onto the shoulder of the highway.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
The boy hides aloft in the Sycamore Gap tree's branches.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
-
Their highlight reels hide the daily grind that actually creates results.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
That was a reference, of course, to Elon Musk, whose DOGE actions slashing longstanding social services led her to donate her Tesla for charity, in a move that stirred up his supporters.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 May 2025
-
Project 2025 was a sweeping blueprint from the 2024 campaign season from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, to slash the federal workforce and dismantle federal agencies.—
Lisa Mascaro and Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
The Speccie’s star columnist is the rudest man in Christendom, the Godzilla of contumely, an all-time non-sufferer of fools who horsewhips his targets the way Hunter S. Thompson and Christopher Hitchens once did.—
Kyle Smith,
National Review,
23 Apr. 2020
-
In reality, Watson wasn’t a bar fighter or famous for horsewhipping cowboys.—
Eliza McGraw,
Smithsonian,
12 Mar. 2018
Verb
-
Continue reading … 'NUMEROUS QUESTIONS' – China lashes out, levels accusation against the US over COVID-19 origins.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
-
Foot at head-height, his hamstring clearly fixed, the Dutchman lashed it over his own shoulder into the net.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Underneath her coat, Witherspoon wore an ankle-length black skirt and leather round-toe boots.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Compare with the Met’s full-size cast, from 1985, and these miniatures cleave the collective anguish into distinct emotions — one figure seems mid-dance, one bored, another ecstatic — in a range of patinas, from dark chocolate to leather.—
Walker Mimms,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
However, his abysmal start to the year – he’s typically flailed over the first month, though not this much – has left fans begging for Luke Weaver’s return to the closer’s role.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Some, perhaps with haunting memories of watching big guys like Gallo, Davis and outfielder Adam Dunn flailing away, remain wary.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Stop flogging yourself over something that is nobody’s beeswax.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
-
At the risk of flogging whatever’s left of Secretariat, Clark is the WNBA’s horse whisperer.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flagellate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagellate. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share