振り回す|ふりまわすfurimawasu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto wield; to brandish; to flourish; to wave (about); to swing
    そのように刃物はものを振り回ふりまわすことは危険きけんだ。↗
    It is dangerous to wield an edged tool in such a way.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto display (one's knowledge); to show off
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto abuse (one's power)
  4. godan verb, transitive verbto manipulate someone
Conjugation
Dictionary form振り回す(ふりまわす)
Polite (masu)振り回します(ふりまわします)
Negative (nai)振り回さない(ふりまわさない)
polite (masen)振り回しません(ふりまわしません)
classical zu / nu振り回さず・振り回さぬ(ふりまわさず・ふりまわさぬ)
Past (ta)振り回した(ふりまわした)
polite (mashita)振り回しました(ふりまわしました)
Past negative (nakatta)振り回さなかった(ふりまわさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)振り回しませんでした(ふりまわしませんでした)
Te form振り回して(ふりまわして)
Potential振り回せる(ふりまわせる)
Passive振り回される(ふりまわされる)
Causative振り回させる(ふりまわさせる)
Causative passive振り回させられる(ふりまわさせられる)
Conditional (ba)振り回せば(ふりまわせば)
tara振り回したら(ふりまわしたら)
Volitional振り回そう(ふりまわそう)
polite (mashou)振り回しましょう(ふりまわしましょう)
Imperative振り回せ(ふりまわせ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym振りかざすふりかざすNeutralHolds a sword, etc. high overhead rather than waving it about; figuratively flaunts power or proclaims one's principles, as in 「正義を振りかざす」.
  • Synonym打ち振るうちふるWrittenA written-style word for swinging something vigorously; rare in actual use — in everyday speech say 「振る」 or 「振り回す」.
  • Related振り上げるふりあげるNeutralRaising a fist, sword, etc. upward; the focus is on the upward motion itself, not the back-and-forth waving of the headword.
  • Related振るうふるうNeutralTo swing or wield, and figuratively to exercise power or skill, as in 「腕を振るう」; lacks the headword's nuance of waving something around at will.
  • Antonym従うしたがうNeutralTo obey or follow; merely a possible reaction of the person being pushed around, so not a strict antonym of 「振り回す」.

Default to 「振り回す」 for waving something back and forth, and figuratively for pushing people around or showing off knowledge (「振り回される」). Use 「振りかざす」 for holding something high to flaunt it, and 「振るう」 for exercising one's skill or power.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 手てに持もった物ものを勢いきおいよく動うごかす。
  2. 自分じぶんの能力のうりょくなどを人ひとに見みせびらかす。
  3. 権力けんりょくなどを勝手かって気きままに使つかう。
  4. 人ひとを自分じぶんの都合つごうのいいように動うごかす。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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