as in dinosaurs
something that is unusually large and powerful
a whale of a pickup truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hits
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in hides
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pounds
to strike repeatedly
mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whales
Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Humpback whales aren't native to the Baltic.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The whales started roiling and a sudden gush of blood reddened the water.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
The video taken in 2023 shows female whales from two family lines working together to support the labor during critical moments and lift the newborn calf above the water.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Like whales and dolphins, modern seagrasses descend from land-dwelling ancestors.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
The team hopes to further analyze the footage alongside recordings of the whales’ clicks to better understand how the group communicated during the birth.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Their findings suggest that the whales offered the calf’s mother a level of assistance that puts midwifery to shame.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Sei whales are endangered and are common in the Southeast's waters.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Humpback whales aren't native to the Baltic.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The whales started roiling and a sudden gush of blood reddened the water.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
The video taken in 2023 shows female whales from two family lines working together to support the labor during critical moments and lift the newborn calf above the water.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Like whales and dolphins, modern seagrasses descend from land-dwelling ancestors.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
The team hopes to further analyze the footage alongside recordings of the whales’ clicks to better understand how the group communicated during the birth.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Their findings suggest that the whales offered the calf’s mother a level of assistance that puts midwifery to shame.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whales
Noun
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Anne Hathaway versus cosmic dinosaurs?—
William Earl,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
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The cardboard castle continued to prompt lessons, as children brought toy dragons to live inside it, then discussed taking pets to a veterinarian and then pivoted to dinosaurs.—
Michael Cuglietta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On a day when balls were not leaving the yard and hits to the warning track were rare, the Cubs still thrived.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Trash truck hits a resident’s vehicle – $47,000 The Board of Estimates approved a $47,000 settlement for Donald Stepp after a Department of Public Works trash truck struck his vehicle on Dundalk Avenue in February 2023.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Indeed, few movies have ever been more damning or prescient in their condemnation of the health industrial complex, which hides all manner of sins under the guise of physical improvement.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2026
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In the 1995 film, Carrey’s pet detective character hides inside a fake rhinocerous to spy on unscrupulous types in a safari setting.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
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Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And American tech giants like Amazon, OpenAI and Microsoft see the Gulf states’ abundant and cheap energy and vast land as key to their AI infrastructure buildouts.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Rioux is two inches taller than former NBA giants Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and three inches taller than popular big men Yao Ming, Tacko Fall and Shawn Bradley.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While the woman’s wrists are being held to her sides, Lentz punches her several times, the video shows.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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The Soundcore 2 is a compact classic that punches well above its weight class with 12W of power and dual neodymium drivers.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
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After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whales. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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