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Whipsawed: meaning, definitions and examples

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whipsawed

 

[ ˈwɪpˌsɔd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

financial markets

Whipsawed refers to a situation where an investor is trapped by rapid market movements, typically where prices go up and down quickly, leading to losses. It can describe the volatility that investors experience when they make trades that are adversely affected by sudden price swings.

Synonyms

buffeted, thrashed, tossed

Examples of usage

  • Investors were whipsawed by the sudden drop in stock prices.
  • After being whipsawed by the market, many traders decided to stay on the sidelines.
  • Feeling whipsawed, she hesitated to make further investments.

Translations

Translations of the word "whipsawed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 oscilado

🇮🇳 झूलना

🇩🇪 hin- und hergerissen

🇮🇩 terombang-ambing

🇺🇦 коливати

🇵🇱 kołysany

🇯🇵 揺れ動く

🇫🇷 oscillé

🇪🇸 oscilado

🇹🇷 salınmış

🇰🇷 흔들리다

🇸🇦 تأرجح

🇨🇿 houpat

🇸🇰 kolísaný

🇨🇳 波动

🇸🇮 zibajo

🇮🇸 hreyfður

🇰🇿 тербелген

🇬🇪 მოძრაობა

🇦🇿 sallanmış

🇲🇽 oscilado

Etymology

The term 'whipsawed' originates from the tool known as a 'whipsaw,' which is used for cutting wood with a saw blade that is operated by two people, one on each side of the wood. The action of the saw moving back and forth mimics the rapid changes in market conditions, hence applying the term to describe sudden reversals in financial assets. This imagery was adopted into financial jargon to depict the stressful and often damaging impact of significant fluctuations in prices on an investor's portfolio. The use of 'whipsaw' in a financial context dates back to at least the mid-20th century, evolving as markets became more volatile and trading more complex.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,874, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.