thrash

[ thrash ]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to toss, or plunge about.
2. Nautical. to make way against the wind, tide, etc.; beat.
3. thresh ( defs 3, 4 ).

noun

1. an act or instance of thrashing; beating; blow.
2. thresh ( def 5 ).
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. to talk over thoroughly and vigorously in order to reach a decision, conclusion, or understanding; discuss exhaustively. Also thresh outover.

thrash

/ 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

noun

1. the act of thrashing; blow; beating
2. informal.
   a party or similar social gathering

Other Words From

• un·thrashed adjective
• well-thrashed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrash¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrash¹

Old English threscan; related to Old High German dreskan, Old Norse thriskja

Synonym Study

See beat.

Example Sentences

She became a national under-14 champion, and would "quietly thrash" any boys who might think they were in for an easy game, according to Ellie.

From BBC

The government says it is “hopeful” that councils could come back to the table to thrash out a deal.

From BBC

The temporary ruling, by Judge Thomas Thrash in Georgia, means the campaign is banned from playing it again until the court case is settled.

From BBC

Slayer, the pioneering thrash metal band he co-founded in 1981 from suburban Huntington Park, was finished as an active touring and recording outfit, much to the sadness and disbelief of the teary, moshing crowd in front of him.

From Los Angeles Times

Slayer, like other thrash originators in the 1980s, had a sound partly fueled by its collision of metal and punk.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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