1
: of or relating to Carthage or the Carthaginians
2
: the Phoenician dialect of ancient Carthage
Examples of Punic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
The first Italian to try to bridge the Messina Strait may have been Consul Lucius Metellus, circa 250 B.C.E. After winning the battle of Palermo in the Punic wars, his army was flush with bounty, including, according to Pliny the Elder, some 140 elephants.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2023
The results of this unprecedented collection of climate data: In the third century B.C., when Rome fought the First and Second Punic wars against Carthage and began its ascent to Mediterranean empire, times were good.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2011
Rich Lowry, National Review, 29 June 2025
Ancient Rome infamously destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.E. during the Third Punic War.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
Cato the Elder was a senator in the Roman Republic during the Punic Wars.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
From the Punic Wars to the Napoleonic Wars to the Cold War, the rules of geopolitics have been consistent for thousands of years.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
The Romans took control of Sicily in 241 B.C.E. at the end of the First Punic War with the Carthaginians.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
From the Punic Wars to World War II, peace through strength has always been preferable to peace through annihilation.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
The city was one of the first in Sicily to join the Roman Empire amid the First Punic War in 263 B.C.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 9 Oct. 2024
The Netflix movie will cover pivotal battles against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War fought between the two great empires of Rome and Carthage.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
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Adjective
This year’s Series, which began on Friday, is the twelfth instance in which the teams have met in these Punic confrontations, with the Yankees prevailing eight times.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
The first Italian to try to bridge the Messina Strait may have been Consul Lucius Metellus, circa 250 B.C.E. After winning the battle of Palermo in the Punic wars, his army was flush with bounty, including, according to Pliny the Elder, some 140 elephants.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2023
The results of this unprecedented collection of climate data: In the third century B.C., when Rome fought the First and Second Punic wars against Carthage and began its ascent to Mediterranean empire, times were good.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2011
Noun
The brutalist federal buildings that have blighted Washington, D.C., for decades deserve the same fate as Carthage after the Third Punic War, and the nation’s capital is finally beginning to move on from these concrete monstrosities.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 29 June 2025
Ancient Rome infamously destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.E. during the Third Punic War.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
Cato the Elder was a senator in the Roman Republic during the Punic Wars.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
From the Punic Wars to the Napoleonic Wars to the Cold War, the rules of geopolitics have been consistent for thousands of years.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
The Romans took control of Sicily in 241 B.C.E. at the end of the First Punic War with the Carthaginians.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
From the Punic Wars to World War II, peace through strength has always been preferable to peace through annihilation.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
The city was one of the first in Sicily to join the Roman Empire amid the First Punic War in 263 B.C.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 9 Oct. 2024
The Netflix movie will cover pivotal battles against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War fought between the two great empires of Rome and Carthage.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Punic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Punic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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