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

There have been so many near misses since Livingstone pummeled a 100 against Pakistan in 2021 off 42 balls at Nottingham (a game where England came up short). —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024

That sent shockwaves across equities, pummeling some of 2024′s leading artificial intelligence names. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2024

As Ernesto's pummeled Puerto Rico early Wednesday morning, officials issued under flash flood warnings as the national hurricane center reported damaging wind gusts. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2024

The scary Monday started with a plunge abroad reminiscent of 1987 ’s crash that swept around the world and pummeled Wall Street with more steep losses, as fears worsened about a slowing U.S. economy. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune Asia, 6 Aug. 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