thrash

American  

[thrash] / θræʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to beat soundly in punishment; flog.

   Synonyms:

   drub , maul

2. to defeat thoroughly.

   The home team thrashed the visitors.

3. Nautical.  to force (a close-hauled sailing ship under heavy canvas) against a strong wind or sea.

4. thresh.

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verb (used without object)

1. to toss, or plunge about.

2. Nautical.  to make way against the wind, tide, etc.; beat.

3. thresh.

noun

1. an act or instance of thrashing; beating; blow.

2. thresh.

3. Swimming.  the upward and downward movement of the legs, as in the crawl.

4. British Slang.  a party, usually with drinks.

verb phrase

1. thrash out / over  to talk over thoroughly and vigorously in order to reach a decision, conclusion, or understanding; discuss exhaustively. Also thresh outover.

thrash British  

/ θræʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to beat soundly, as with a whip or stick

2. (tr) to defeat totally; overwhelm

3. (intr) to beat or plunge about in a wild manner

4. (intr) to move the legs up and down in the water, as in certain swimming strokes

5. to sail (a boat) against the wind or tide or (of a boat) to sail in this way

6. another word for thresh

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noun

1. the act of thrashing; blow; beating

2. informal  a party or similar social gathering

Related Words

See beat.

Other Word Forms

• unthrashed adjective
• well-thrashed adjective

Etymology

Origin of thrash

before 900; Middle English thrasshen, variant of thresshen to thresh

Example Sentences

Prices haven’t surged so much in a year since 1979, when a global energy crisis fueled an inflationary shock that thrashed the world’s economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Pumas are bidding to complete an unbeaten tour of Britain, with a record 52-28 thrashing of Wales in Cardiff earlier this month preceding their comeback win over Scotland.

From Barron's

We should welcome a raucous, open primary to thrash out who we are and what and who we’re going to fight for.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two humiliating friendly results three months later – a goalless draw with Gibraltar and 4-0 thrashing by Slovakia – spelt the end for Page.

From BBC

While investors pared back some of their AI trades, crypto markets have been thrashed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beat up
• clobber
• crush
• defeat
• maul
• overwhelm
• paste
• pummel
• rout
• spank
• trounce
• whip