slug

1 of 2

verb (1)

slugged; slugging

transitive verb

1

: to add a printer's slug to

2

: to drink in gulps

—often used with down

slug

2 of 2

verb (2)

slugged; slugging

transitive verb

1

: to strike heavily with or as if with the fist or a bat

2

: fight sense 4b

—usually used in the phrase slug it out

Synonyms of slug

Verb (2)

• punch
• hit
• slap
• smack
• knock
• slam
• bang
• pound
• whack
• clip
• clap
• strike
• bat
• swipe
• crack

Examples of slug in a Sentence

Verb (2)

she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Oklahoma of the Southeastern Conference eliminated the Jayhawks from CWS contention by slugging the Jayhawks 13-2 on Monday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026

Desmond, a Republican county supervisor, essentially has been waiting in the wings, keeping a comparatively low profile for months as the sure-thing Republican nominee in the pivotal 48th Congressional District, while Democrats slugged it out in a contentious primary. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

So began another all-timer in OKC, as the Bruins slugged a game-tying long ball one out from defeat. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 June 2026

The final price landed more than ten times above its high estimate after 10 bidders slugged it out for six full minutes. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing slug

• rose slug
• sea slug
• slug it out

Rhymes for slug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rug
• rugg

Kids Definition

slug

1 of 3 noun

ˈsləg 

1

: sluggard

2

a

: a small piece of shaped metal (as a bullet)

b

: a metal disk used in place of a coin in a coin-operated machine

3

: any of numerous long wormlike land mollusks that are related to the snails but have only an underdeveloped shell or none at all

4

: a single drink of liquor : shot

slug

2 of 3 noun

: a heavy blow especially with the fist

slug

3 of 3 verb

slugged; slugging

: to strike heavily with or as if with the fist or a bat

Etymology

Noun

Middle English slugge "a lazy person"; of Scandinavian origin

Noun

perhaps from earlier slug (verb) "to load (a weapon) with slugs"