flogged; flogging

transitive verb

1
a
: to beat with or as if with a rod or whip
The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny.
b
: to criticize harshly
He was flogged in the press for failing to take action.
2
: to force or urge into action : drive
3
a
chiefly British : to sell (something, such as stolen goods) illegally
flogged their employers' petrol to ordinary motoristsEconomist
b
: sell sense 7
traveled by horse, flogging encyclopediasRobert Darnton
flogging wares at the local discount outletRonald Henkoff
c
: to promote aggressively : plug
flying around the world flogging your moviesPeter Bogdanovich
4
British : steal sense 1

intransitive verb

1
: flap, flutter
sails flogging
2
British : to move along with difficulty : slog
flogger noun

Examples of flog in a Sentence

The sailors were flogged for attempting a mutiny. a graphic depiction of a sailor being flogged by the captain for disobeying orders
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some of these promotions are simply flogging pro-MAGA paraphernalia. David Gilbert, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024 One man from the Bajrang Dal holds him by the collar of his torn gray shirt while Premi flogs him with a belt, displaying no hesitation. Mohammad Ali, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2020 In May, the filmmaker escaped to Europe after receiving sentence of jail and flogging from the Iranian authorities. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 On this day in 1850: The U.S. Navy officially abolished flogging as a form of punishment through an act of Congress, which was signed into law by President Millard Fillmore. The Arizona Republic, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flog 

Word History

Etymology

perhaps modification of Latin flagellare to whip — more at flagellate

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of flog was circa 1676

Dictionary Entries Near flog

Cite this Entry

“Flog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flog. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

flog

verb
flogged; flogging
: to beat severely with or as if with a rod or whip
flogger noun

More from Merriam-Webster on flog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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