whipsaw

American  

[hwip-saw, wip-] / ˈʰwɪpˌsɔ, ˈwɪp- /

noun

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

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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 British  

/ ˈwɪpˌsɔː /

noun

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

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verb

1. to saw with a whipsaw

2. to defeat in two ways at once

Etymology

Origin of whipsaw

First recorded in 1530–40; whip + saw ¹

Example Sentences

The market has been hit by whipsaw moves, underscoring how investors are struggling to price in the financial implications of the geopolitical shock.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

“We don’t like to whipsaw these programs up or down,” ConocoPhillips Chief Executive Ryan Lance told analysts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Officials have long warned that continued climate change could whipsaw California between precipitation extremes, with the state trending toward aridity, interspersed with exceptionally wet years.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

This has left stocks to whipsaw as investors search for signals and find only noise from trade tensions, AI trends—and now bank stresses.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Here, by hand, with an inadequate whipsaw, they sawed the spruce-trunks into lumber. 

From The Red One by London, Jack