1
as in bin
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things
filled a whole box with books
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Relevance
2
3
as in TV
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound
would you switch on the box so that we can watch the news?
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4
as in dilemma
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with our new home still unfinished, and the buyers of our condo eager to move in, we were in a real box
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in punch
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the vicious bully delivered a box to the child's ear
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to punch
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect
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Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of box
David W. Brown, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers pared back the idea through the amendment process in February, citing concerns that the original language would swell state spending, box out private pest-control companies and create an unfunded mandate to counties, which historically handle pests that threaten farms and infrastructure.
—Mark Dee
march 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
In the eighties, Thorn boxed professionally, as a middleweight, ultimately fighting Roberto Durán, a five-time world champ, before turning to a career as a guitarist and singer.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for box
Noun
Ingenuity, a tissue-box-sized robotic aircraft, made more than 70 flights on Mars between 2021 and 2024.
—David W. Brown, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers pared back the idea through the amendment process in February, citing concerns that the original language would swell state spending, box out private pest-control companies and create an unfunded mandate to counties, which historically handle pests that threaten farms and infrastructure.
—Mark Dee
march 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
The friends explained that the man, who was livestreaming himself on the beach, was trying to get the young man to box him on the sidewalk for $180.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
In the eighties, Thorn boxed professionally, as a middleweight, ultimately fighting Roberto Durán, a five-time world champ, before turning to a career as a guitarist and singer.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for box
Recent Examples of Synonyms for box
Verb
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The Rockets are a team that lost its starting point guard (Fred VanVleet) at the start of the year while the Knicks brought back and built upon the exact same core that punched the franchise’s first ticket to the conference finals in the last quarter-century.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Manning allegedly punched and kicked Hartman in the face and torso, scratched her, choked her and grabbed her by the hair and slammed her against the floor and wall.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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About 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the fight, Grasso drilled Barber in the head with a left hook, knocking her out.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Crow-Armstrong had support from his team during Friday’s news conference, where first baseman Michael Busch, manager Craig Counsell, hitting coach Dustin Kelly, assistant hitting coach John Mallee and staff assistant AJ Lewis took in the scene.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
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Alcantara left the mound with a lead, courtesy of the bottom of Miami’s lineup stringing together hits in the second.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Then reality smacks you in the face.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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That is another area in which dreams smack into the reality of Cuban state, which owns 80% of all arable land.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated March 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Airlines across the region, like Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are slapping hefty fuel surcharges on flights; Vietnam and the Philippines are even weighing whether to ground planes.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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This month, the influential environmental group Conservation Colorado filed ballot measures with the state elections office that would slap stricter penalties on the energy industry for the pollution and contamination that result from its operations.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kodai Sano clipped the bar before the break, and the pressure eventually told when Ito got the breakthrough.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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His Land Rover clipped another vehicle and went over.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 14ers banged drums and danced like no one was watching.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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People fed up with rolling blackouts have staged sporadic protests in recent days, banging pots and shouting slogans against the government, rare demonstrations in a country known for repressing dissent.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another sticking point has been her close alignment with Kennedy, whose efforts to dramatically pull back vaccine recommendations have been slammed by lawmakers and medical groups.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
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Still others were ready to slam the project for various reasons (such as Rowling’s trans views, or gripes about Snape being played by a Black actor).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Box.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/box. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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