thrashing

noun

thrash·​ing ˈthra-shiŋ How to pronounce thrashing (audio)
plural thrashings
1
: a severe beating or flogging
If a poacher was taken he was given a thrashing as well as being prosecuted with its consequent jail sentence.W. Mostyn Thomas
"They called her a little blue ragamuffin, father," said Harry, who ran in looking very angry. "But I have given it to them. They won't insult my sister again. I have given them a thrashing they will remember."Anna Sewell
2
: a dominating defeat of an opponent
… after going 6-5 on a tough road trip that concluded with 9-2 and 12-4 thrashings of the Giants last weekend, they were 57-41 …Phil Taylor

Examples of thrashing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Several Dolphins achieved neat feats during the uplifting 34-10 thrashing of the Falcons in Atlanta. Barry Jackson updated October 27, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025 This home thrashing also came just a day after LSU’s board voted to increase ticket prices for 2026. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025 How to Watch Memphis vs UAB Memphis returns from a bye following a 45-7 thrashing of Tulsa that improved the Tigers to 2-0 in The American. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025 The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thrashing

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thrashing was in 1799

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Cite this Entry

“Thrashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrashing. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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