1
as in bins
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things
filled a whole box with books
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in coffins
a boxlike container for holding a dead body
the only way I'm ever leaving this hospital room is in a box
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3
as in TVs
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound
would you switch on the box so that we can watch the news?
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4
as in pickles
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with our new home still unfinished, and the buyers of our condo eager to move in, we were in a real box
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as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the vicious bully delivered a box to the child's ear
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as in clips
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of boxes
Todd Plummer, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
Like the Rice-A-Roni boxes of my ’90s and early 2000s upbringing, this handy side dish is simple to make and perfect for rounding out any meal.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
And purely from the outside looking in, Tomlin seems to check a lot of boxes for the prototypical coach in need of a fresh challenge.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Shop toiletry bags with upright storage, a crossbody bag with a compact pouch, travel jewelry boxes that don’t take up much space in a bag or atop a dresser, and more clever finds.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
To organize your media cabinet or closet, take all the board games out and put all the loose pieces back in their corresponding boxes.
—Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Every November, Cook says, her whole office is stacked high with cans and boxes of food.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Search by title or topic in the Search Bar in the middle of the Home Page, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and browse.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
The clacking of mouth-swab petrie dishes as they’re loaded into boxes for shipping, the line-by-line licking of complimentary doughnuts at the front desk.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
This all played out just after the museum had opened, with bystanders able to video one suspect in a high-visibility vest standing at one of the glass boxes housing historical treasures.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
That confusion is further reflected by the manic hyper-subjectivity of Bronstein’s filmmaking, which boxes Linda into a close-up so tight that everything around her — especially her unnamed daughter, who almost never appears on screen — might as well be a disembodied echo of her own anxiety.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Their chestnut gift boxes are chic and tactile, complete with roasting instructions and a handy scoring tool.
—Todd Plummer, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
Like the Rice-A-Roni boxes of my ’90s and early 2000s upbringing, this handy side dish is simple to make and perfect for rounding out any meal.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
And purely from the outside looking in, Tomlin seems to check a lot of boxes for the prototypical coach in need of a fresh challenge.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Shop toiletry bags with upright storage, a crossbody bag with a compact pouch, travel jewelry boxes that don’t take up much space in a bag or atop a dresser, and more clever finds.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
To organize your media cabinet or closet, take all the board games out and put all the loose pieces back in their corresponding boxes.
—Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Every November, Cook says, her whole office is stacked high with cans and boxes of food.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Search by title or topic in the Search Bar in the middle of the Home Page, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and browse.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
The clacking of mouth-swab petrie dishes as they’re loaded into boxes for shipping, the line-by-line licking of complimentary doughnuts at the front desk.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
To mark the occasion, Crumbl is also releasing limited-edition Martha Stewart boxes for its six-pack orders — perfect for gifting or adding a touch of elegance to any gathering.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
This all played out just after the museum had opened, with bystanders able to video one suspect in a high-visibility vest standing at one of the glass boxes housing historical treasures.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
That confusion is further reflected by the manic hyper-subjectivity of Bronstein’s filmmaking, which boxes Linda into a close-up so tight that everything around her — especially her unnamed daughter, who almost never appears on screen — might as well be a disembodied echo of her own anxiety.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxes
Verb
-
The carry handles each have a magnetic piece that then clips together to form a single bar to grasp.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
-
For messing up, Martha clips Gabriel’s wings, forcing him to live life as a human, with a new casual wardrobe to match and a taste for fast food.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Vote of confidence Heweliusz represents a huge vote of confidence from Netflix in CEE as the streamer celebrates its decade in a region that punches above its weight and has a bustling local entertainment sector.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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Founded in 1777, Lexington is home to both Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and the presence of the universities no doubt plays a part in a cultural richness that punches above its weight class for a tiny town of just 7,000 people.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
So many conversations about so many things and for some reason that’s what hits home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse hits her desk, Diane’s questions about the buyer’s identity lead to what could be the story of a lifetime.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However, when a wealthy telecommunications CEO knocks on their door and reveals his plans to regain the public’s trust in supers, the Parrs are all in.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Latin social dance is a place where people leave their worries at the door, but in Chicago, fear over immigration crackdowns knocks anyway.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Quietly handling the cornbread, with a buttery scent that smacks you right in the face, is her paternal grandmother.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
30 Oct. 2025
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As the scene unfolds, the gorilla suddenly lifts its arm and smacks the glass, causing a crack.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The tarp slaps the frame of the truck’s roof.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Scientists have always assumed that when this stellar ejecta violently slams into dense gas surrounding the dying star, known as the circumstellar medium, this generates narrow emission lines in the light or spectra seen from Type II supernovas.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Jamaica reels after Hurricane Melissa slams into the island, severely damaging roads and hospitals.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxes. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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