whipsaw

[hwip-saw, wip-]

noun

1. a saw for two persons, as a pitsaw, used to divide timbers lengthwise.

verb (used with object)

whipsawed, whipsawed, whipsawn, whipsawing. 

1. to cut with a whipsaw.

2. to win two bets from (a person) at one turn or play, as at faro.

3. to subject to two opposing forces at the same time.

   The real-estate market has been whipsawed by high interest rates and unemployment.

verb (used without object)

whipsawed, whipsawed, whipsawn, whipsawing. 

1. (of a trailer, railroad car, etc.) to swing suddenly to the right or left, as in rounding a sharp curve at high speed.

whipsaw

/ ˈwɪpˌsɔː /

noun

1. any saw with a flexible blade, such as a bandsaw

verb

1. to saw with a whipsaw

2. to defeat in two ways at once

Word History and Origins

Origin of whipsaw¹

First recorded in 1530–40; whip + saw ¹

Example Sentences

SoftBank’s whipsawing share price likely reflects investors’ shifting sentiment about artificial intelligence and the company’s bets in the space.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

An upgrade with lower price target is unusual, but MP stock has been whipsawed by U.S.-Chinese trade tensions.

Read more on Barron's

Prices of the cryptocurrency have whipsawed after falling below $100,000 in early November.

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Futures prices for natural gas, a key fuel for heating homes, generating electricity and powering data centers, this week notched their highest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine whipsawed markets in 2022.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Recent trade negotiations are “having a whipsawing effect on the prices of U.S. rare earth equities. China/US relationship good—U.S. rare earth stocks down; China/US relationship bad—US rare earth stocks up,” added Gianarikas.

Read more on Barron's