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
Charna Flam, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Another study conducted in Galesburg, Illinois found that the number of cavity-free 14-year-olds dropped by 10% and the rate of cavities went up by 38% when the city switched its water supply from naturally fluoridated water to an alternative water source with little fluoride.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025
Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
In the demo, her sections mostly consist of timed platforming puzzles where players must quickly make their way from A to B, collecting more time and killing enemies flawlessly to then trigger a switch so Kenji can progress.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for switch
Verb
Kevin McMahon, 64, filed a lawsuit against Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, N.Y., in 2021, on a claim of medical malpractice for allegedly switching him at birth with Ross McMahon on May 26, 1960.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Another study conducted in Galesburg, Illinois found that the number of cavity-free 14-year-olds dropped by 10% and the rate of cavities went up by 38% when the city switched its water supply from naturally fluoridated water to an alternative water source with little fluoride.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
To date, the switch has felt far away, with only Hyundai making an early move to add it to the 2025 Ioniq 5.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
In the demo, her sections mostly consist of timed platforming puzzles where players must quickly make their way from A to B, collecting more time and killing enemies flawlessly to then trigger a switch so Kenji can progress.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switch
Verb
-
The eight-episode dramedy stars Luke Kirby and French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg as the directors of ballet companies in New York and Paris, respectively, who agree to swap their main attractions in a bid to save their storied institutions.—
Michael Ausiello,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Maybe the fan theories are right, and Ariana swapping out her Glinda pink for Swarovski lilac is yet another sign of a brand new era.—
Kleigh Balugo,
StyleCaster,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Union carved out a niche in romantic comedies, starring in Two Can Play That Game (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), and Breakin’ All the Rules (2004), in addition to action flicks like Cradle 2 the Grave (2003).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Bohm took a few steps, then flicked his bat into the air.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Ellie hides her injury from Dina when her friend arrives to rescue her, and the women are summoned to appear before the town leaders to share their experience.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The titles of 12 such books — some of which may have been published before 2025 — are hidden below within an unrelated text passage.—
J. D. Biersdorfer,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier this year, national park operations were disrupted when President Donald Trump, via executive action, laid off hundreds of seasonal park employees before reversing course.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Last Wednesday, hours before President Donald Trump reversed course on many of his tariffs, one of the world’s richest people made an ask of wealthy sports owners.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The race is being widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats who at the national level are still licking their 2024 election wounds, as well as a potential referendum on Trump and Musk.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Cora appears to enjoy the routine and happily lets the cat lick at the tufts of blonde hair on her head.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
My go-to Starbucks order is a nonfat mocha latte, no whip.—
Perrie Samotin,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Few people know this better than Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), the upper chamber’s highest-ranking official who served as Senate minority whip for Republicans last Congress.—
Audrey Fahlberg,
National Review,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The ripstop is applied to the shirt’s pointed Western yoke, collar and chest flaps.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Apr. 2025
-
However, drivers must remember to shut the DRS flap in a non-DRS zone.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Employees can spin up an AI chatbot or machine learning (ML) analyzer with a credit card swipe.—
Fabio Caversan,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
As President Donald Trump takes fast-changing swipes at U.S. trade relationships around the world, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is challenging the president’s authority and taking steps to curb economic blowback.—
Ali Martin,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switch. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share