hurl

[hurl] /hɜrl/
verb (used with object)
1.
to throw or fling with great force or vigor.
2.
to throw or cast down.
3.
to utter with vehemence:
to hurl insults at the umpire.
verb (used without object)
4.
to throw a missile.
5.
Baseball. to pitch a ball.
noun
6.
a forcible or violent throw; fling.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English hurlen, equivalent to hur- (perhaps akin to hurry) + -len -le; akin to Low German hurreln to toss, Frisian hurreln to roar (said of the wind), dialectal German hurlen to roll, rumble (said of thunder)
Related forms
hurler, noun
outhurl, verb (used with object)
unhurled, adjective
Can be confused
hurdle, hurl, hurtle.
Synonyms
1. cast, pitch.
Examples from the web for hurl
  • The invective some members of the group hurl at one another is sometimes as fierce as the insults they throw at wealthier nations.
  • To test the laws of physics, they will hurl themselves against walls, roll on the floor and dive from scaffolds.
  • Your smoker's cough is so bad it makes me want to hurl.
  • Governments hurl money at it when trying to fix failing economies.
  • The tears of another hypocrite make me want to hurl.
  • The kids can place mounted guns, collect coins and hurl snowballs at the incoming enemies.
  • Then they take a good running start and hurl themselves square into it, sending fence slats flying.
  • It seems you fall substantially short of supporting that untenable position as you instead opted to hurl insults and barbs.
  • When a visitor appears, the rats hurl themselves screaming toward their bars.
  • The accusations that fill its pages are the kind scholars regularly hurl at their polemical opponents.
British Dictionary definitions for hurl

hurl

/hɜːl/
verb
1.
(transitive) to throw or propel with great force
2.
(transitive) to utter with force; yell: to hurl insults
3.
(Scot) (hʌrl). to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle
noun
4.
the act or an instance of hurling
5.
(Scot) (hʌrl). a ride in a driven vehicle
Derived Forms
hurler, noun
Word Origin
C13: probably of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for hurl
v.

early 13c., hurlen, "to run against (each other), come into collision," later "throw forcibly" (c.1300); "rush violently" (late 14c.); perhaps related to Low German hurreln "to throw, to dash," and East Frisian hurreln "to roar, to bluster." OED suggests all are from an imitative Germanic base *hurr "expressing rapid motion;" see also hurry. The noun is attested from late 14c., originally "rushing water." For difference between hurl and hurtle (which apparently were confused since early Middle English) see hurtle.

Slang definitions & phrases for hurl

hurl

verb
  1. To pitch: after hurling five frames in three games (1908+ Baseball)
  2. o vomit: Somebody hurled, which was so gross it made somebody else hurl (1992+)