whacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of whack
1
as in tries
an effort to do or accomplish something took a whack at solving the math problem

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2
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument gave the wasp's nest a good whack with the bat

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3
as in claps
a loud explosive sound the whack echoed around the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

whacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of whack
1
as in slaps
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

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2
as in assassinates
slang to put to death deliberately without a second thought the mob boss had them whacked

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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 whacks
Noun
Brush off hair and debris from the surface, then give it a few whacks against the inside of the trash can to knock out some of the dust. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025 The star then grabbed a bat and took several whacks at a colorful piñata shaped like a cascaron. — René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026 Deeper down the road the slap of the drooping tropical tree branches against the windshield are like punishing whacks to the face for trying to force a metaphor. — Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025 In the opening minute alone, Murphy shot just wide off a turnover and Josefin Bouveng set up Madison Kaiser for a couple of whacks from the edge of the blue paint that were both stopped. — Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
With runners on the corners, Martinez whacks a two-run, RBI double to tie it at five. — Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026 Fed up with Nicky’s dramatics, Lester uses his elevator crank and whacks the former hard in the back of his neck. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 Fanning flatlines when left to be a solo show as Bertino whacks her around like a pinball, hitting big, loud scares that seem to keep resetting. — J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025 Then little Holly Wheeler and her 10-year-old friends, including the Season 5 favorite Derek (Jake Connelly), all swarm into the basement and take over the D&D table in a passing of the torch that basically whacks the audience over our collective heads. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whacks
  1. tries
  2. blows
  3. claps
  4. slaps
  5. assassinates
  6. attempts
  7. thumps
  8. bangs
Noun
  • From 10-10 at halftime, Wales scored two tries in two minutes through prop Rhys Carre and Adams, who chased a speculative kick into the Fiji in-goal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Japan has not won a World Cup knockout-round game in four tries.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of tries
Noun
  • Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • Despite the blows to Eurovision’s finances and viewership from the boycott, the contest is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of blows
Noun
  • One of the moments in the musical that caused the most laughter and claps from the audience was the final song, which mocks the idea of using violence as a form of protest rather than joining a movement or focusing on policy.
    — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
  • There were the polite claps after good attacks by the Swiss, sarcastic whistles by the Qatari fans after their team again failed to mount a threat.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026
Definition of claps
Verb
  • Wilhelm enters the room, removes most of his clothing and gets into bed with her, slaps her, pushes her away and then caresses her face and cradles her.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • That direct relationship is what separates a true farm to table operation from a restaurant that simply slaps the phrase on a marketing page.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Definition of slaps
Verb
  • That assassinates Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking retaliatory attacks by Iran across the Middle East.
    — Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Soleimani assassination | Trump orders a drone strike in Iraq that assassinates Qasem Soleimani, an influential Iranian military commander.
    — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Definition of assassinates
Noun
  • If the shot is converted, the free throw is worth three points on three-point attempts or two points on two-point attempts.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Firefighters made several attempts to reach them but were unable to rescue them, per the Akron Beacon Journal.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of attempts
Noun
  • Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
  • You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Definition of thumps
Noun
  • The long, curly ends she was once revered for were now chopped to her chin, while her bangs mingled over her brows.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • Playfully making a surprised expression at the camera and giving a big thumbs up, the bride-to-be styled her dark blonde hair in a sleek style with her front bangs swept to the side.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of bangs

Browse Nearby Words

whacking
whacks
whale
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Cite this Entry

“Whacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whacks. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of whacks for Spanish Speakers

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