whippy

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparableinformal

   Thin, flexible and able to bend quickly and spring back, like a whip.

   Grammar: Can follow a linking verb or come before a noun: a whippy rod, the branch felt whippy.

   Patterns

   • a whippy rod
   • feel whippy

   He picked a long, whippy branch to use as a walking stick.

   The fishing rod is light and whippy, so it bends on every bite.

   A whippy golf shaft can help slower swingers.

2. 2adjectivecomparableinformal

   Quick and snapping in movement, like the crack of a whip.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a whippy turn.

   Patterns

   • a whippy turn
   • whippy movement

   The dancer finished with a whippy turn of her head.

   The car had a whippy, responsive feel on tight bends.

Word forms

Common combinations

whippy rod

A whippy rod is ideal for casting a light line.

whippy branch

The whippy branch snapped back into his face.

whippy shaft

The player switched to a whippy shaft for more distance.

whippy tail

The lizard has a long, whippy tail.

Synonyms and how they differ

flexible

Flexible is the general word for anything that bends easily, while whippy suggests thin and springy like a whip.

supple

Supple often describes leather or a body that is soft and bends smoothly, whereas whippy suggests a quick snapping recovery.

springy

Springy describes anything that bounces back, including mattresses, while whippy is specific to long thin things.

pliant

Pliant is a more formal word that can also describe people who are easily influenced, which whippy never does.

Opposites

Word family

whip noun

a long flexible lash used to drive animals

whip verb

to move or strike quickly

whippiness noun

the quality of being whippy

whipping noun

the act of hitting with a whip

Commonly confused: whippy or whiny? whippy or whippet?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “whippy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words