1
as in to swap
to give up (something) and take something else in return
switched the real grapes for fake ones switched the day of his flight from Thursday to Friday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to flick
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
switched the stagecoach horses to control the direction they took
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to reverse
to change (as an opinion) to the contrary
a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in whip
a long thin or flexible tool for striking
struck the horse's hide with a leather switch, and it took off at a gallop
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flick
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
that telltale switch of the cat's tail meant there was a mouse under the piano
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in swipe
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
in frustration, he gave the mule a sharp switch on the rump, but it still wouldn't budge
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 switch
Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
If so, talk about that and ask them to help assuage your fears by explaining their practices for taking breaks, switching drivers and stopping along the way.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 23 May 2026
Shop around for the best car insurance value Finding a new insurance company takes time, but the switch can dramatically lower your annual premium.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for switch
Verb
According to Iran's soccer federation, the team's base will now switch to south of the California border to Tijuana, Mexico.
—Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
If so, talk about that and ask them to help assuage your fears by explaining their practices for taking breaks, switching drivers and stopping along the way.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Noun
For the last two years, Petra, a showroom founded by Sight Unseen’s Monica Khemsurov, has commissioned and rounded up high-end hardware — switch plates, curtain tiebacks, and towel bars, among them.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 23 May 2026
Shop around for the best car insurance value Finding a new insurance company takes time, but the switch can dramatically lower your annual premium.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switch
Verb
-
Artisan workshop travel is reshaping how curious travelers spend their time abroad — swapping passive sightseeing for hands-on hours at a potter’s wheel, a loom or a perfumer’s bench.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
From bright patterns to more neutral, everyday options, keep reading to find the 10 best gaucho and palazzo pants worth swapping your denim shorts for this summer, with prices starting as low as $16.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
And then, as if a switch had been flicked, Alamo’s tone changed again.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
Hull went closest on the stroke of halftime when McBurnie’s header flicked off a Middlesbrough defender and clipped the top of the crossbar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The 93rd brigade race around the town of Druzhivka to deliver ammunition, food and water to robot resupply units hiding under trees.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
If that bottle hiding in the back of your bar cart is dusty and doesn't taste the same, buy a fresh one.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, Colbert’s facility with hot, headline-heavy topics helped reverse CBS’ fortunes in late night.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
29 May 2026
-
Before releasing his initial budget in April, the mayor urged the council not to make significant cuts to homelessness, contending that could reverse notable progress the city has made on the issue.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up.—
Laura Ungar,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Once all the butter is incorporated, scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to high and whip for another 5 minutes.—
Kate Bradshaw,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
As former majority whip, Cornyn is the highest ranking Texan to serve in the Senate since Lyndon Johnson.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
To prevent swelling, surgeons would typically remove a portion of the skull called the bone flap, treat the underlying blood clot, and then restore the bone flap soon after.—
Martha Raddatz,
The Atlantic,
25 May 2026
-
Onboard cameras showed the vehicle’s aerodynamic flaps intact throughout the fiery descent through the atmosphere.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
What began as a tongue-in-cheek swipe against remarks made by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of India has snowballed into a satirical political movement on social media.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 May 2026
-
As renowned cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson explains, consumers are gravitating toward multitasking formulas that deliver both color and skin-care benefits in a single swipe.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switch. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
