thrashing

[ thrash-ing ]

noun

1. a flogging; whipping.
2. the act of a person or thing that thrashes.
3. a pile or quantity of threshed grain or the grain threshed at one time.

thrashing

/ ˈθræʃɪŋ /

noun

1. a physical assault; flogging
2. a convincing defeat

   a 5–1 thrashing

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrashing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; thrash, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Instead of getting over the lip, he wiped out, and then endured a violent thrashing that broke his will to live.

From Outside Online

Meanwhile, emancipation laws and policies in the 1860s reconciled themselves with the thrashing spirit of slave-owner grievances.

From Time

Lawrence is coming off 403 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception during a thrashing of Pittsburgh last week, 52-17, while not playing the entire game with the Tigers firmly in control after the first quarter.

From Washington Post

Even Slayer frontman Tom Araya announced in 2010 he was retiring his signature helicopter and figure-eight style thrashing.

From The Daily Beast

At times she looks demonic—screaming and thrashing like an overacted Lady Macbeth.

From The Daily Beast

Her thrashing, her dark visions, her frightened gasps will continue for the next 36 hours.

From The Daily Beast

A black dude in the grandstand behind Seiler began a funky dance in the aisle, wildly thrashing about in a cream-colored suit.

From The Daily Beast

This is a party deeply in need of an internal thrashing of heads to pull it out of loony-land and back toward the center.

From The Daily Beast

I have shown your account of your thrashing by steam, and Sir John Sinclair and Mr. —— very highly approve it.

From Project Gutenberg

He seems to think you ought to advertise your steam-engines for thrashing; indeed, I think so too.

From Project Gutenberg

One of his small engines, which had been at work in a mine, was sent as a thrashing engine to Padstow.

From Project Gutenberg

The thrashing machine engine is ready for you, and shall be sent up immediately.

From Project Gutenberg

To prevent the old disputes in collecting his corn tithes, he had at work one of Captain Trevithick's steam thrashing machines.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• annihilation
• beating
• conquest
• debacle
• drubbing
• rout
• trouncing
• whipping