Thesaurus results for FLAGELLATE

flagellate

verb

ˈfla-jə-ˌlāt

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

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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 Stephens would do well to stop flagellating himself and the Never Trumpers and instead join democracy advocates in defending the rule of law in a dangerous new world. —

Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025 Pop stars being badasses, as ever, but expressing doubt, and doing it without the flagellating self-destruction that might have come with an early iteration. —

Susannah Felts, Longreads, 27 Apr. 2023 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 See All Example Sentences for flagellate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagellate

Verb

But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026
At one point, about a dozen people, most wearing Knicks jerseys, jumped on top of a cab stuck in traffic and stomped on and busted the front windshield, while several revelers took turns using belts to whip the hood of the taxi, according to bystander video.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 11 June 2026