fillip 1 of 2

noun

Definition of fillipnext
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument gave him a sharp fillip on the noggin with her teakettle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

fillip

2 of 2

verb

ˈfi-ləp How to pronounce fillip (audio)
as in to stimulate
to give life, vigor, or spirit to used a splash of orange-flavored liqueur to fillip the otherwise ordinary cranberry sauce

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fillip
Noun
Her education was a synthesis of Classical and Romantic, with the Scottish grounding in logic, reason and intellectual persuasion given a fillip by the improvisations of Miss Christina Kay. — Frances Wilson september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025 China’s foreign minister was due to arrive in New Delhi for talks aimed at rebuilding relations five years after fierce border clashes — efforts which have also been given a fillip by trade pressure from Washington. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
There are micro-twists within the major ones, expressive fillips that blend confessions and aphorisms, and grand reflections along with jousts of seductive wit. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fillip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fillip
  1. blow
  2. stimulate
  3. slap
  4. thump
  5. swipe
  6. punch
  7. pound
  8. thud
Noun
  • Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The pro-Western opposition parties won big Saturday in the Czech Republic’s vote to fill one-third of the seats in Parliament’s upper house, the Senate, handing a blow to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • The reason progestogen is recommended in women with a uterus is because estrogen can stimulate growth of the uterine lining and increase the risk of endometrial cancer.
    — Shannon Firth, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The glasses project light onto 378 pixels in the implant, which converts those light patterns into an electrical current that stimulates the retina’s bipolar cells.
    — Erica Sweeney, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulate
Noun
  • The Wild, who have played all season without first-pair defenseman Brock Faber due to a skull fracture, lost forward Nico Sturm in the first period when he was hit on the side of the head by teammate Jared Spurgeon's slap shot.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But, with seconds left on the clock, Patel wanted to get in one last slap shot.
    — Richie McGinniss, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • But the knock on them has been the lack of thump in their lineup.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The brutalist thump of drummer Moe Tucker renders the showmen in Led Zeppelin and the Who irrelevant.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of thump
Noun
  • We’re hooked on the Panorama Chromatics Mascara in Burgundy Cashmere, a deep, warm burgundy that gives subtle drama and flatters every eye color, but the other two low-commitment shades—Blue Suede and Brown Leather—are also worth the swipe.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Ella Langley appeared to take a subtle swipe at fellow star Riley Green on a recent Instagram livestream.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of swipe
Noun
  • The farm offers a punch card to residents for $18 and is good for up to 14 punches or around 21 bags of debris.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Hadribeaj attacked the body early, crouching beneath Fundora’s punches and landing looping shots over the top.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Callahan is described as 5-foot-7 and 100 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The interception came on a throw intended for FSU’s Duce Robinson, the Seminoles’ 6-6, 230-pound star receiver who had five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns on the game.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pound
Noun
  • Less than a mile from Presnell’s apartment, the girl heard a thud.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Obscenities, the referee’s whistle, and the thud of boots into balls—and sometimes shins—easily carry across these desolate fields.
    — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of thud

Browse Nearby Words

fill-ins
fillip
filliped
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Fillip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fillip. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All