1
as in to slap
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
after the man had punched the bartender for eighty-sixing him, bouncers stepped in and restrained him until the police could arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
the real punch of the speech came in its closing lines
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind
we're going to need a candidate with real punch if voters are ever going to get excited about this election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the poor palooka wasn't able to land a single punch on his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument
old computers used to get information by reading the punches on a series of cards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of punch
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
In Wyoming, workers pled guilty to animal cruelty after they were exposed punching piglets and kicking them like soccer balls.
—Will Potter
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
PC Magazine, 9 July 2025
Even at full price, the DJI Mini 4K punches well above its weight.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
After failing to post his $17,500 bond, police said Klein woke up from a nap on Friday and allegedly became very combative, punching a security camera in his holding cell at the police department.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
In Wyoming, workers pled guilty to animal cruelty after they were exposed punching piglets and kicking them like soccer balls.
—Will Potter
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
Noun
Samsung also dropped the under-display technology for a regular old punch hole.
—PC Magazine, 9 July 2025
Even at full price, the DJI Mini 4K punches well above its weight.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
-
But, everyone's mostly aware, that many celebrities get five-figure treatments and then launch skincare lines, slapping their names on them.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The product was fresh, the money real, and every A&R man from New York to Memphis knew the formula: Find a pretty face, slap a catchy chorus behind it, and watch the allowances roll in.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
With Matt Brash on the mound for the Mariners, Stanton drilled a two-run homer.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
11 July 2025
-
James struck again, drilling a three-pointer over Cooper, drawing cheers from the fans.—
Broderick Turner
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Preventing the spread of marijuana laced with chemicals is one of the driving factors behind Tyson's push for federal reform.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
-
Official data from April show that the number of Canadians driving across the border had dropped 35 percent from the previous year.—
Stephen Marche,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Anyone who attended the National Restaurant Show in Chicago last month was smacked in the face at booth after booth by a single agenda wrought from desperation: how to harness technology to find ways to use fewer human workers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
-
Please Tony, stop smacking your lips after every sentence.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
Verb
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With piercing honesty and raw emotion, Jean Smart delivers a powerful monologue in Call Me Izzy, a new play written by Jamie Wax and directed by Sarna Lapine.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
-
The hot nights pierced with cold decisions on young men’s futures.—
Devon Henderson,
Oc Register,
6 July 2025
Verb
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His installation is called The Jewel of Mayfair, and features a carpet that runs the length of the arcade, nearly 560 feet, featuring stones and designs from each chapter of his 50-year career.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
-
Curtis Sliwa, who also ran for mayor against Adams four years ago, will be the Republican candidate.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
The Padres took a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a one-out single, moved to third on a single by Luis Arraez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Machado.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
-
While hitting 350 homers is a feat in itself, Judge reached the mark more quickly than former slugger Mark McGwire.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, with the U.S. president poking at the nation’s northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
-
Johnson immediately returned to social media Wednesday night to post a series of rambling videos discussing his arrest and seemingly poking at Rogan without addressing him directly.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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