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

By Thursday, the severe storm threat shifts further into the Southeast while storms also pummel the Ohio Valley. —Christina Maxouris, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

At least four people were killed by falling trees in separate incidents in New York, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire on Wednesday and Thursday, as treacherous storms rolled in from the Midwest and pummeled the Northeast with heavy rain and powerful winds. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

The decision to cancel the show for severe weather comes less than a year after a hail storm pummeled the ampitheatre during a Louis Tomlinson concert, injuring dozens and sending at least seven people to the hospital. —Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Israel has been pummeling Gaza in retaliation for the militant group's surprise Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of hundreds. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Other storms have since pummeled the northernmost portion of the state, including the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's land, and residents of the area said having a program like this one in place would be beneficial. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

In August, Adventist Health White Memorial lost power hours after Southern California was pummeled by a storm named Hilary. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024

That’s nearly a third fewer than the 570 in 2017, when the county was pummeled with its highest overdose death toll ever recorded. —The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024

The View star Sara Haines attempted to pummel cohost Sunny Hostin with facts during an intense on-air clash over frozen embryos. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 23 Feb. 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