pummel

verb

pum·​mel ˈpə-məl 

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

ˈpəm-liŋ

: pound, beat

Synonyms of pummel

• lick
• hide
• pound
• beat
• lash
• whip
• pelt
• slap
• hit
• knock
• attack
• punch
• smash
• assault
• thump
• spank
• do
• slam
• batter
• bludgeon
• maul

Examples of pummel in a Sentence

pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

Recent Examples on the Web

It's been nearly a week since heavy rains from a likely derecho pummeled the Midwest and displaced roughly 1,000 people across Indiana. — John Tufts, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2026

Israeli forces have also pummelled Syria with hundreds of airstrikes in recent years, predominantly targeting Syrian army assets to render the facilities unusable by the new government, which is run by former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Ukraine's drones have pummeled the giant depots belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, burning billions of dollars’ worth of merchandise and bringing the war home to the broad public. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Instead of pummeling out of the sky in a ballistic reentry, the lifting body landed sort of like an airplane. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of pommel

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pummel

• hummel

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