sling 1 of 2

sling

2 of 2

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sling distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sling are cast, fling, hurl, pitch, throw, and toss. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When is cast a more appropriate choice than sling?

The synonyms cast and sling are sometimes interchangeable, but cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When might fling be a better fit than sling?

While in some cases nearly identical to sling, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When would hurl be a good substitute for sling?

Although the words hurl and sling have much in common, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

Where would pitch be a reasonable alternative to sling?

While the synonyms pitch and sling are close in meaning, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When can throw be used instead of sling?

The words throw and sling are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

When could toss be used to replace sling?

The meanings of toss and sling largely overlap; however, toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Examples of sling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
State of sip: Thompson's has been slinging craft cocktails in downtown Fort Worth for over a decade, but the space has evolved in recent years to include a cigar lounge and events space. Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024 The buck kicks his feet, churns mud, and slings debris skyward. Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2024 Bo Nix slings a nice 22-yard pass to Courtland Sutton to start Denver’s opening drive. Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2024 The 18-year-old son of Donald and Melania Trump sported a white polo shirt, Adidas sneakers and black Swiss Gear backpack, casually slung over his shoulder, as he was seen heading into the dean’s office building, followed by Secret Service agents, the New York Post reported. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sling 

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

Thesaurus Entries Near sling

Cite this Entry

“Sling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sling. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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