bonking

verb

present participle of bonk
as in smacking
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner an overhead branch suddenly fell and bonked him on the head

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bonking Seffrin and his team note that their study suggests that men might be able to thwart bonking by running slower in the first half of a marathon and getting continually faster as the race progresses, a pacing strategy known as negative splitting. — Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 2 July 2026 Those misses rarely occurred in season two, but three episodes into this season, the bat is flying wildly around the stadium, bonking people in the head in a freak mass-casualty bat-event. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Watch the baby birds bonking at the video at the top of the story. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonking
  1. smacking
  2. hitting
  3. banging
  4. slapping
  5. knocking
  6. punching
  7. slamming
  8. whacking
Verb
  • But Varma and Shivam Dube (27) upped the ante in the final three overs by smacking 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • The brother will provoke him by hitting him first and saying cruel things, typically about me.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Shortly after the conversation began, Soho pulled out a handgun and shot at the officers, hitting two of them, according to the GBI.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • Plus, Skullcandy's Crusher Bass technology utilizes dedicated bass drivers to really give you a head-banging experience, sending bone-shattering bass pulsating through your skull.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
  • And although the set wasn’t particularly long, Charli rocked it, sending heads banging everywhere.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • Gabby Williams hopped off a double-decker bus and began dancing through the streets, blowing a whistle to the beat and slapping high-fives with fans all while keeping her WNBA Finals MVP trophy safely tucked in her left arm.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Jamie Love is swaying, slapping a hand against her thigh to keep time, and mouthing along to the music that plays from a set of portable speakers.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • The alleged assault on restaurant employees Investigators said Gonzalez ambushed the employee, repeatedly punching him in the face with closed fists, knocking him to the ground, and continuing to strike him.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The firefighter responded by knocking Brown out with a metal bar.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • Video shows a Pine-Richland football player punching a Plum player in the head during a game, prompting calls for accountability.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Anthony David Lizardo, 28, was arrested Sunday on a second-degree murder charge stemming from an incident where he was seen punching a man repeatedly in downtown Miami, according to his arrest report.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • But acquiring those products throughout the years-to-a-decade doesn’t hurt my wallet as much as slamming $2,000 on the Apple Store counter.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The team behind this research performed simulations of the early universe and found stellar systems were densely packed, leading to stars frequently slamming into each other.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • In fact, Abdi recommends against mowing and weed whacking near tree roots in general.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 1 Nov. 2026
  • There are frightening stories of swordfish charging boats, and even spearing their transoms and whacking propellers.
    — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of whacking

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Cite this Entry

“Bonking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonking. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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