as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pummel
After trailing by double digits in every prior game of the series, the Knicks flipped the script — pummeling the Celtics in a wire-to-wire 119-81 rout to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, their first appearance since 2000.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
The company has previously tried to push beyond home rentals, but dialed back those efforts in 2020 to focus on its core business as the Covid pandemic shuttered borders and pummeled the travel industry.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 13 May 2025
The Padres had no mercy on the Rockies Saturday, pummeling a team threatening to become the worst in MLB history 21-0 at Coors Field.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
He was dealt a few brutal whacks from a golf club and then viciously pummeled.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
The company has previously tried to push beyond home rentals, but dialed back those efforts in 2020 to focus on its core business as the Covid pandemic shuttered borders and pummeled the travel industry.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 13 May 2025
The Padres had no mercy on the Rockies Saturday, pummeling a team threatening to become the worst in MLB history 21-0 at Coors Field.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
He was dealt a few brutal whacks from a golf club and then viciously pummeled.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
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But Fahy, Alcock, and director Nicole Kassell are also very good at their jobs, and so even downright bizarre moments like Simone chewing Michaela’s used gum or Devon randomly licking a landscaper’s neck wind up making a strange sort of sense.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
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Jose shrugs, pleads with her to not lick anyone at the inn, and leaves.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
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Ukraine was able to smuggle drones deep into Russia by hiding them in the tops of flatbed trucks, which parked near military bases before the drones lifted off to attack planes on the runway.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 June 2025
Verb
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After the car came to a stop, the video showed, angry Liverpool fans swarmed it again, pounding on its windows and exterior as police rushed to secure the scene.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
28 May 2025
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Such pollutants accumulate on the ocean’s surface near the Tijuana River, and then are released as wave action pounds the water and forms bubbles that burst.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The men beat 27-year-old Chin with a baseball bat, cracking his skull.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
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Madrid were soundly beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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In a second Memorial Day social media post, Trump focused largely on lashing out at federal judges and perceived political opponents.—
Alexandra Hutzler,
ABC News,
26 May 2025
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President Donald Trump lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to attack Ukraine while talks are ongoing between the two countries to find an end to the ongoing conflict.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 May 2025
Verb
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The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
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This small kitchen appliance has a variable speed trigger switch to make blending, pureeing, frothing, whipping and chopping as easy as pressing a button.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Already under a tornado watch, the Kansas City metro, along with parts of Missouri and Kansas, were issued a flash flood warning Monday afternoon as severe thunderstorms and quarter-sized hail pelted the area, according to the National Weather Service.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2025
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To that end, Emond includes archival footage of forest wildfires and melting icebergs in her film as Adam braves a storm with heavy winds and pelting rain towards the end of Peak Everything during an iconic go get the guy scene.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
Verb
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Five months after passing an ordinance to ban smoking in parks, the city of Fort Lauderdale finally slapped stickers on existing signs about this prohibition that do not get people’s attention.—
John Michael Pierobon,
Sun Sentinel,
25 May 2025
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Over the course of two days, groups got the chance to see 21 humpback whales feed and raise their pectoral fin before slapping it against the water, along with 15 Risso’s dolphins, the group said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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