toss

verb

ˈtȯs How to pronounce toss (audio)
Definition of tossnext
1
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the boat tossed to and fro in the heavy seas

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2
as in to fidget
to make jerky or restless movements tossed and turned in bed all night, unable to sleep in the heat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm toss that football over here

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4
as in to discard
to get rid of as useless or unwanted we need to go through the basement and toss whatever we don't use

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word toss distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of toss are cast, fling, hurl, pitch, sling, and throw. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Where would cast be a reasonable alternative to toss?

In some situations, the words cast and toss are roughly equivalent. However, cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When would fling be a good substitute for toss?

The meanings of fling and toss largely overlap; however, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When might hurl be a better fit than toss?

While in some cases nearly identical to toss, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

In what contexts can pitch take the place of toss?

Although the words pitch and toss have much in common, pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

When is sling a more appropriate choice than toss?

While the synonyms sling and toss are close in meaning, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When could throw be used to replace toss?

The words throw and toss 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of toss Under a court order from last week to reinstate the AP, Trump 2.0 has decided to toss the wire services out with the bathwater. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2025 In this quick one-pan dinner, a sweet and spicy blend of honey and pepper is tossed with asparagus and chicken pieces. —Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 Nathan tossed the black backpack into a trash can, Seraphine said. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025 The footage, captured at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, allegedly showed Ventura walking toward a bank of elevators as Combs chased after her, then grabbing her by the neck and tossing her to the floor before turning to violently kick her and grab her purse and suitcase. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toss
  1. sway
  2. fidget
  3. throw
  4. discard
  5. lurch
  6. jerk
  7. hurl
  8. dump
Verb
  • Combs’ defense team made arguments for delaying the trial up to two months, but the judge was not swayed.
    — KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Tribal dancers stomp and sway alongside breakdancers, all in one continuous shot that becomes an anachronistic continuum of Black musical expression across the ages.
    — A.A. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of sway
Verb
  • Then came Brian Harman, fidgeting over each practice swing.
    — Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Minimize distracting habits like fidgeting, checking your watch, or tapping your fingers.
    — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of fidget
Verb
  • Several viral videos have captured audiences of the blockbuster video game adaptation going wild, throwing food and drink, and trashing auditoriums.
    — Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Augusta National Golf Club throws its support behind distance restrictions of golf balls and improving the pace of play.
    — Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of throw
Verb
  • The patients alleged the company didn’t disclose the risk of false positives in genetic testing on embryos, which led them to discard potentially viable embryos.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Transfer carrot mixture to a platter using a slotted spoon; discard thyme sprigs.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of discard
Verb
  • But the ruling did little to herald any political stability in the country, which has lurched from crisis to crisis.
    — Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
  • For the last six weeks, Americans have been yanked and ghosted, lurched and launched with a merciless urgency.
    — Philip Elliott, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of lurch
Verb
  • This apparently spooked an SUV driver in the next lane, who jerked the wheel to the left and ran into the opposite curb.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
  • How to jerk off Jerking off, also known as jacking off, is another technique that can be helpful in your arsenal of self-pleasure.
    — Quispe López, Them, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • Since mid-March, the U.S. military has hurled more than $200 million worth of missiles, bombs, and rockets into the remote deserts and mountains of Yemen, in what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dubbed, with sublime ahistorical clumsiness, Operation Rough Rider.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Avery hurls the ball toward the basket, hitting the rim but missing.
    — Laura A. Bischoff, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of hurl
Verb
  • Last week brought a frenzied trading session in the bond markets as investors dumped bonds overnight—sending the 30-year Treasury yield briefly above 5 percent.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Atmospheric rivers out West also tend to dump their heaviest rain over the open water in the Pacific, because the storms they’re associated with typically peak in strength there.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of dump

Phrases Containing toss

Browse Nearby Words

tosh
toss
toss (down or off)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toss. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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