spanked; spanking; spanks
: to strike especially on the buttocks with the open hand
plural spanks
: an act of spanking : a sharp slap or blow to the buttocks usually with the palm of the hand
A variety of approaches have been tried for dealing with this problem, ranging from gently holding the child in the chair to a quick spank, but it is not yet clear which of these approaches is most effective …—
David A. Lieberman
David A. Lieberman
spanked; spanking; spanks
: to move quickly, dashingly, or spiritedly
spanking along in his new car
Synonyms
Noun
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of spank in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebKimanzi Constable, Parents, 1 Feb. 2024
So when a scene in Martin Scorsese's latest, Killers of the Flower Moon, called for De Niro to spank DiCaprio, the Raging Bull star wasn't going to hold back — so DiCaprio, wisely, wore a butt pad to absorb all that raw thespian energy.
—EW.com, 26 Oct. 2023
Hale then forces Ernest bend over with his elbows against a podium and spanks him with a paddle several times, physically punishing him for his failures.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
Many a would-be dominator of the racetrack or the boulevard face-off has been spanked silly by a Corvette, red or otherwise.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
After all, people who want their mamas to spank them while dancing on poles are still just, well, people.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024
The film's cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, told Insider that De Niro was actually spanking DiCaprio on set.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2023
The complaint against Seduction is pending, but the state Board of Medicine spanked Sampson twice — once for the surgical errors that led to Russell’s death and once for the problems that the ensuing inspection found at Seduction.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
There are insightful spankings of Bill Clinton, JFK and Richard Nixon, as well as a glib reminiscence of being spanked, literally, by Margaret Thatcher.
—David Amsden, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Monroe grabbed him, gave him a spank and sent him back on course.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2022
Verb
The superintendent said the school district brought back the practice of spanking after parents asked for more punishment other than suspensions.
—Kimanzi Constable, Parents, 1 Feb. 2024
So when a scene in Martin Scorsese's latest, Killers of the Flower Moon, called for De Niro to spank DiCaprio, the Raging Bull star wasn't going to hold back — so DiCaprio, wisely, wore a butt pad to absorb all that raw thespian energy.
—EW.com, 26 Oct. 2023
Hale then forces Ernest bend over with his elbows against a podium and spanks him with a paddle several times, physically punishing him for his failures.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023
Many a would-be dominator of the racetrack or the boulevard face-off has been spanked silly by a Corvette, red or otherwise.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
After all, people who want their mamas to spank them while dancing on poles are still just, well, people.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024
The film's cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, told Insider that De Niro was actually spanking DiCaprio on set.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2023
The complaint against Seduction is pending, but the state Board of Medicine spanked Sampson twice — once for the surgical errors that led to Russell’s death and once for the problems that the ensuing inspection found at Seduction.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
There are insightful spankings of Bill Clinton, JFK and Richard Nixon, as well as a glib reminiscence of being spanked, literally, by Margaret Thatcher.
—David Amsden, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Noun
Inter Miami underlined its status as MLS favorites with a 5-0 home spank of rival Orlando City Saturday on two goals apiece from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, leaving the Herons unbeaten (two wins, one draw) in three games.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Monroe grabbed him, gave him a spank and sent him back on course.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spank.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spank
Cite this Entry
“Spank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spank. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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