whipsawed

American

[hwip-sawd, wip-] / ˈʰwɪpˌsɔd, ˈwɪp- /

adjective

Stock Exchange.

subjected to a double loss, as when an investor has bought a stock at a high price soon before it declines and then, in order to make good the loss, sells it short before it advances.

Etymology

Origin of whipsawed

whipsaw + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Oil markets have whipsawed this week as investors parse the chances of a breakthrough agreement between Washington and Tehran that could potentially resume normal shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Shares of closed-end fund Destiny Tech100 have been whipsawed this week, reflecting the promise and peril of trying to access stocks before their IPOs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Shares of Spotify whipsawed after the investigation was announced but recovered.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Nearly 15 years ago, Delta wagered that it could beat the oil industry at its own game after being whipsawed by volatile fuel prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

After the service, as the remaining worshippers gathered outside the church, news whipsawed through the crowd that North Korean troops had crossed the 38th parallel.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023