pummel

verb

pum·​mel ˈpə-məl 

pummeled also pummelled; pummeling also pummelling ˈpə-mə-liŋ 

ˈpəm-liŋ

: pound, beat

Synonyms

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• hide
• lace
• lambaste
• lambast
• lash
• lather
• lick
• maul
• mess (up)
• paddle
• pelt
• pommel
• pound
• punch out
• rough (up)
• slate
• slog
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• thresh
• thump
• tromp
• wallop
• whale
• whip
• whop
• whap
• whup
• work over

Examples of pummel in a Sentence

pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

Recent Examples on the Web

Israel has pummeled Lebanon with airstrikes in the last two weeks, killing more than 1,000 people, according to the country's health ministry. —Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024

In Beirut's southern suburbs, smoke rose and the streets were empty Saturday after the area was pummeled overnight by heavy Israeli airstrikes. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 29 Sep. 2024

China’s economy has been pummeled by a raft of weak economic data, as more Chinese opt to save rather than spend leading to lackluster consumption and retail sales figures. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2024

The heavy rainfall continued to pummel the region into Sunday. —Sophie Tanno, CNN, 15 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of pommel

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pummel

verb

pum·​mel ˈpəm-əl 

pummeled or pummelled; pummeling or pummelling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: pound entry 3 sense 2a, beat

knead and pummel the dough

2

: to defeat decisively

pummeled the competition