hurl

[hurl]

verb (used with object)

1. to throw or fling with great force or vigor.

   Synonyms: pitch, cast

2. to throw or cast down.

3. to utter with vehemence.

   to hurl insults at the umpire.

verb (used without object)

1. to throw a missile.

2. Baseball.,  to pitch a ball.

noun

1. a forcible or violent throw; fling.

hurl

/ hɜːl /

verb

1. (tr) to throw or propel with great force

2. (tr) to utter with force; yell

   to hurl insults

3. to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle

noun

1. the act or an instance of hurling

2. a ride in a driven vehicle

Other Word Forms

• hurler noun
• outhurl verb (used with object)
• unhurled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurl¹

1175–1225; Middle English hurlen, equivalent to hur- (perhaps akin to hurry ) + -len -le; akin to Low German hurreln to toss, Frisian hurreln to roar (said of the wind), dialectal German hurlen to roll, rumble (said of thunder)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurl¹

C13: probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The aboatia hooks his wiry tail around what looks like a hockey puck on the ground and hurls it at me.

Read more on Literature

Veronika hurled the insult at her brothers, who had just done something dreadful.

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Alexander idly poked his sister with the sextant, and Cassiopeia clutched her abacus in a way that suggested it might soon be hurled across the room.

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Without thinking about the consequences, Penelope, too, hurled herself at the guard.

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Whether or not the unidentified whistle blower has an ax to grind is unknown to me, but plainly the email is not a list of wild accusations hurled by an unreliable gadfly.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fire 
• fling 
• heave 
• lob 
• sling