1
2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
back in those times it was acceptable for teachers to paddle misbehaving students
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paddled
Video showed one of the rescuers swimming out to Phoenix, who paddled toward the man.
—
Riley Rourke, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
As a tragic week ended, thousands swam and paddled on boards off the coast of Bondi as the community came together to heal.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
The Indigenous Kayakers on the Klamath As the Klamath River was being freed from its dams, a group of teens paddled its full 300 miles—reclaiming a sacred waterway for their people.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
No death-defying rapids here on this lazy, looping stretch easily paddled by families in canoes.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Amazon Prime Video’s six-part thriller concluded with an ending that cannonballed into new territory and paddled swiftly away from the ending of Michelle Frances’ 2017 novel of the same name.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The girl’s mom got into a kayak, paddled out to the sinking canoe and rescued her daughter, but her boyfriend went underwater, deputies said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paddled
Verb
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Moran rowed crew all four years at the prestigious school, while Schlossberg studied history.—
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The boat is being rowed onward.—
Verb
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Some even licked the candy to soften it -- a trick used by contestants in the show.—
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Napkins were crumpled; plates were licked.—
Verb
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Trump has also repeatedly lashed out over the state’s incarceration of Tina Peters, the former county clerk convicted of state felonies related to her attempts to prove discredited election conspiracies shared by the president.—
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The California economy was lashed all year by tumult in Hollywood, which has been hit by a slowdown in filming as well as media and entertainment industry consolidation.—
Verb
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The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.—
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Trump seems to have arrived, on his own, at the same understanding of geography and politics that was pounded into the heads of Soviet schoolchildren, including Putin and me.—
Verb
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While eating at the restaurant with her parents, Black begged for her own tasty drink and the bartender whipped one up, naming it after her.—
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Oversized boards and platters layered with cheeses, charcuterie, fresh produce, whipped butters and compotes serve as both menu and décor, encouraging guests to snack, wander, and eat at their own pace.—
Verb
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Roadways across the Garden State got pelted with heavy bands of snow, sleet and freezing rain, as the Friday evening commute went from snowy to slushy in a matter of hours.—
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The Chargers took a field trip to SoFi Stadium for practice Wednesday, staying dry while straining to hear instructions as a steady downpour pelted the roof far above their heads.—
Verb
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Trump has said previously that the Cuban economy, battered by years of an American embargo, would slide further with the ouster of Maduro.—
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The arts scene in South Florida has been battered by funding cuts at the federal and state levels over the last few years.—
Verb
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Five players were booked during their defeat to Cameroon, including Foster, who slapped the linesman’s hand twice and screamed in his face in frustration over a decision.—
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Its tail slapped the surface of the water, marking la paiche’s territory.—
Cite this Entry
“Paddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paddled. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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