What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
thrash
Example
The waves thrashed against the shore during the storm. [thrashed: past tense]
Example
The boxer thrashed his opponent with a series of powerful punches. [thrash: verb]
whip
Example
The cowboy cracked his whip to startle the horses. [whip: noun]
Example
She whipped her head around to see who was calling her name. [whipped: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Whip is more commonly used than thrash in everyday language. Whip is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while thrash is less common and often associated with more extreme or violent actions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between thrash and whip?
While whip can be used in both formal and informal contexts, thrash is typically associated with a more informal or even slang tone, and may not be appropriate for formal situations.