whiplash
noun
whip·lash
| \ ˈhwip-ˌlash
, ˈwip-\
, ˈwip-\
Definition of whiplash
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: something resembling a blow from a whip
the whiplash of fear— R. 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
The whiplash effect has become so pronounced that even the slightest suggestion of good news from China later in the week sent markets on an upswing. — CNN, "US-China trade war shows no sign of ending as new tariffs arrive," 30 Aug. 2019 Markets were recovering from a whiplash weekend, as investors attempted to follow the trajectory of the monthslong trade war between the world's two largest economies. — NBC News, "Markets soar after Trump says China wants to talk about trade," 26 Aug. 2019 Dealing with Warren’s renegotiation demands after Trump’s is likely to generate whiplash among our trading partners, but very few concessions. — Daniel W. Drezner, Twin Cities, "Daniel Drezner: The weak defenses of Elizabeth Warren’s trade plan," 15 Aug. 2019 In an era of whiplash politics, California vs. Trump has become one of the most consistent political narratives of the past 2-1/2 years, as the state has filed lawsuit after lawsuit against the administration. — Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: The state of California vs. Trump, again," 14 Aug. 2019 Reading Knox’s letters to Lock alongside his other writings is a whiplash experience. — Jamie Quatro, The New Yorker, "The Hidden Life of a Forgotten Sixteenth-Century Female Poet," 5 Aug. 2019 The last season of the sci-fi drama was whiplash-inducing, and season three promises to be even more of a brain-bender. — Angela Watercutter, WIRED, "The 10 Things We're Most Excited to See at Comic-Con," 16 July 2019 John Paxson has publicly stated his desire to upgrade at point guard so often that Kris Dunn may have whiplash. — K.c. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Point, counterpoint: Will the Bulls add Kris Dunn’s competition in Thursday’s NBA draft or in July free agency?," 18 June 2019 Trump’s efforts in recent weeks have featured whiplash-inducing threats and reversals. — Washington Post, "Leaks, accusations and staff shuffle: Turmoil inside DHS," 27 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whiplash.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for whiplash
whiplash
noun
English Language Learners Definition of whiplash
: an injury to the neck that is caused by a sudden backward movement of the head
See the full definition for whiplash in the English Language Learners Dictionary
whiplash
noun
whip·lash
| \ ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip-
\
\
Medical Definition of whiplash
: 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)
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