Definition

1. Noun:
   • A quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object: The act of striking with a whip or something similar, often resulting in a mark or injury.
   • An injury to the neck resulting from rapid acceleration or deceleration: A specific medical injury, typically to the cervical spine and soft tissues, caused by a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck, resembling the crack of a whip. This is commonly associated with rear-end automobile collisions.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Physical Blow):

  • The cruel master gave the horse a sharp whiplash.
  • He felt the stinging whiplash of the branch across his face.

• Noun (Medical Injury):

  • She suffered from whiplash after the car was hit from behind.
  • The doctor diagnosed him with a mild case of whiplash.

Advanced Usage

• "Whiplash effect": Used metaphorically to describe a sudden, violent, or jarring change in circumstances, direction, or policy.
  • The sudden policy reversal created a whiplash effect in the markets.
• "Whiplash injury": The full medical term for the condition.
  • Proper headrest adjustment can help prevent whiplash injuries.

Variants and Related Words

• Whip (noun/verb): The object used to deliver a blow or the action of striking.
• Whiplike (adjective): Resembling a whip in form or motion.

Synonyms

• Lash: A blow with a whip.
• Cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) injury: The formal medical term for whiplash.
• Neck sprain/strain: Common descriptions for the injury.

Related Phrases

• To suffer whiplash: To experience this specific neck injury.
  • Several passengers suffered whiplash in the collision.
• Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD): A broader medical classification for the range of clinical manifestations related to a whiplash injury.

Noun

1. a quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object
   • the whip raised a red welt
2. an injury to the neck (the cervical vertebrae) resulting from rapid acceleration or deceleration (as in an automobile accident)