1
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the wasp's nest a good whack with the bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
the whack echoed around the field
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
whacked the vending machine to get the candy bar to fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to assassinate
slang
to put to death deliberately
without a second thought the mob boss had them whacked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 whack
Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Insurer networks are supposed to steer patients toward efficient providers, but the incentives are out of whack.
—Bobby Jindal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
But in Oakland, where the homeless population is well over 5,000 by official estimates, some advocates have questioned whether tent clearings create a whack-a-mole problem — given that most homeless residents have nowhere else to go.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whack
Noun
Course-correct what’s out of whack.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Insurer networks are supposed to steer patients toward efficient providers, but the incentives are out of whack.
—Bobby Jindal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
That should earn him more pitches to whack.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
But in Oakland, where the homeless population is well over 5,000 by official estimates, some advocates have questioned whether tent clearings create a whack-a-mole problem — given that most homeless residents have nowhere else to go.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whack
Noun
-
However, passes weren’t connecting, Montreal’s speed was able to keep up with the Frost’s own, and shot attempts ended up being too wide of the net to go in.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
Critics decried the move as another attempt by Republican election deniers to disenfranchise voters.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Shortly after the five-year anniversary of the killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by a Chicago police officer, the case was poised to move to a high-profile weekslong trial when a Cook County judge dealt a blow to the Toledo family’s case.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Helping cushion the blow of the supply shock, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have used alternative export routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Dylan, who is dimpled and impish, with long eyelashes and a curtain of dark bangs, picked up a small container and examined it.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The Chicago White Sox began May with a bang, as Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery homered in an 8-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Friday.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Carson Richter hit a grand slam for Newbury Park.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
Austin Hays then hit a grounder to third baseman Manny Machado.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Allen, a California teacher, is charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
Authorities rightly repaid the favor by charging Allen with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, and transporting and discharging a firearm.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
The Los Angeles Angels walked off the Mets, 4-3, in the 10th inning on Saturday night at Angel Stadium, handing the Amazins’ their 18th loss in their last 22 tries.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
-
After first settling in Iowa, Zama gave soccer another try.—
Krystle Rich,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
John Carlson let fly with a slap shot that hit Poehling and trickled into the net for his fourth playoff goal.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
Guentzel fired a slap shot between Dobes’ legs on another 2-on-1 breakaway to tie it at 2 late in the second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gamma rays are the most energetic type of light rays, typically marking the last gasp of a dying star or the cataclysmic clap of two neutron stars.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
-
Clad in all black, James and the band cracked wise onstage with a brash, swashbuckling attitude, led constant clap-alongs, and took multiple sojourns into the crowd — and that was just during the first song.—
Daniel Kohn,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whack. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
