Meaning & use
flagellate
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To whip or beat someone, often as a form of religious penance or punishment.
See it in a sentence
Medieval penitents would flagellate themselves as an act of religious devotion.
The cult leader ordered his followers to flagellate one another during the ritual.
A note on using this word
In biology, "flagellate" is also a noun for a single-celled organism that moves using a whip-like tail called a flagellum.
Words with a similar meaning
whipscourge
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A single-celled organism that propels itself using one or more whip-like structures called flagella.
The pond water sample contained several flagellates swimming under the microscope.
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