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Whiplash - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Whiplash is a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck, often caused by car accidents. It can result in pain, stiffness, or injury to the neck muscles and ligaments.

whiplash

/ˈwɪplæʃ/ /ˈwɪplaʃ/

Definition:

A sudden jerking movement of the head, often causing neck injury.

Synonyms:

jerk, lash, snap, jolt

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

stability, stillness

Common Collocations:

whiplash injury, suffer whiplash, cause whiplash

Derivatives:

whiplashed, whiplashing

Usage Tips:

Use "whiplash" to describe sudden neck movements or figurative abrupt changes.

Common Phrases:

whiplash effect, emotional whiplash

Etymology:

From "whip" (to move suddenly) + "lash" (a swift blow).

Examples:

  • 1. The car crash gave her severe whiplash.
  • 2. He felt a sharp whiplash when the bus stopped suddenly.
  • 3. The roller coaster caused minor whiplash for some riders.
  • 4. Her neck hurt from the whiplash of the collision.
  • 5. The sudden policy change created political whiplash among voters.

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