whiplash

noun

whip·lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash

: the lash of a whip

: something resembling a blow from a whip

… the whiplash of fear …—R. S. Banay

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline as well as diesel — has been volatile as markets and consumers feel whiplash about uncertainty of the war’s future. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 But don’t expect this whiplash back to the left to be permanent. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 The capricious shift is whiplash-inducing, as if editors Adam Gough and Tom Eagles cleaved a sizable chunk of footage from the film. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026 Go a little deeper All this diplomatic whiplash comes as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with drone and missile strikes, killing hundreds of civilians in September alone and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiplash

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of whiplash was circa 1580

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Whiplash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiplash. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·lash -ˌlash

: the lash of a whip

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip-

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)

whiplash

noun

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

Word History

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whiplash

noun

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for whiplash

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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