whiplash
3 synonyms for whiplash, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A neck injury caused by a sudden, violent jerking of the head, often in a car accident.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
whiplash injury
How to use whiplash
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
suffer whiplash
whiplash injury
emotional whiplash
Etymology
A compound of whip and lash, describing an injury that mimics the snapping motion of a whip.
Full origin of whiplash →Frequently asked questions
What does “whiplash” mean?
The word “whiplash” means a neck injury caused by a sudden, violent jerking of the head, often in a car accident. In plain terms, a neck injury from a sudden jerk of the head, or, more loosely, a sudden jarring change.
How do you pronounce “whiplash”?
“Whiplash” is pronounced WIHP-lash (/ˈwɪpˌlæʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “whiplash” in a sentence?
Here is “whiplash” used in a sentence: “She suffered whiplash after being rear-ended at a red light.”
What part of speech is “whiplash”?
“Whiplash” is a noun.
How many meanings does “whiplash” have?
“Whiplash” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a neck injury caused by a sudden, violent jerking of the head, often in a car accident.
