whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: something resembling a blow from a whip
the whiplash of fearR. S. Banay
3
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.
Recent Examples on the Web This whiplash is a common experience among breast cancer survivors. Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2024 It’s been a bit of whiplash this week the world of Russian oil. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The disruptive weather pattern, occurring over many months every few years, involves an unusual warming of water in the Pacific Ocean and often brings a whiplash of moisture to normally dry areas, and drought to wet, temperate areas. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024 One of the other challenges early adopters of these AI solutions may face is tech whiplash. Ray Walia, Cpa, Cma, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Even though the Midwest could enjoy a warm sunny day, within hours, a winter whiplash pushed the warmth out and plummeted temperatures to below freezing. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 Walleye experience year-to-year 'whiplash' The researchers looked at walleye survey data from state natural resource departments and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission along with spring harvest counts from several Ojibwe tribes. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 The whiplash in rhetoric — at times positive, at others critical — is typical of the Russian autocrat. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Rodrigo’s albums necessarily have to alternate her pop-punk thrashers and her ballads, to some degree, making for a little bit of whiplash for the few of us who still listen to albums in squence. Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whiplash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiplash was circa 1580

Dictionary Entries Near whiplash

Cite this Entry

“Whiplash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiplash. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun
whip·​lash -ˌlash How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun
whip·​lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip- How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)

More from Merriam-Webster on whiplash

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