boxing

verb

Definition of boxingnext
present participle of box
as in punching
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

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 boxing The Washington Post took a look at how the designation risks boxing the US out of Syria’s recovery. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 July 2026 Instead of scoring points, Richard was more focused on making the right defensive rotation, making passes and boxing out. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 On Tuesday morning, a dozen volunteers joined Montano on the street outside of her restaurant, packing and boxing an influx of supplies — from sanitary supplies to nonperishable foods — dropped off by passing vehicles. — Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 The actor says he's become 'hooked' on boxing with the help of a coach. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 And those volunteers have been busy boxing them up and shipping them off for delivers to Venezuela. — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 26 June 2026 Usyk was given a scare by kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, who had competed only once in boxing previously, before finding a stoppage late in the 11th round in his previous outing and a rematch has been mooted. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 26 June 2026 After training under boxing trainer Carmen Graziano and pursuing a professional boxing career in New Jersey, Brown later shifted his focus to acting and moved to New York to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 Wrapping up the selection are the Slovak coming-of-age drama Cowgirl by Michal Blaško (Victim) and Austrian director Sebastian Brauneis’ boxing biography Hansi about Hans Orsolics, which captures 1960s Vienna. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxing
  1. punching
  2. hitting
  3. knocking
  4. slapping
  5. slamming
  6. smacking
  7. banging
  8. clapping
Verb
  • Halty embraces the way Senda Athletics is punching above its weight as a sportswear brand in a tournament full of global brands and stars.
    — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • An impromptu blind date with a handsome rapist ends with Esther punching him square in the nose, his blood gushing through her fingers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • Besides hitting their price target — about $350 per square foot — Talbot and his wife, Marisol, were taken with the modern design with a 14-foot clerestory ceiling.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • To the moon All the political developments of the last 24 hours have not stopped stocks, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting 53,000 for the first time ever.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
  • Belgium trounced the United States, winning 4-1, knocking the hosts out of the competition.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • There was briefly some concern earlier this year that Chestnut wouldn’t be able to participate in the 2026 competition after he was arrested for allegedly slapping a man in an Indiana bar.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Chestnut competed in the event while serving a 180-day probation sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from drunkenly slapping a man in an Indiana bar earlier this year.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • Prosecutors allege Clay intentionally drove his car onto the sidewalk, sped toward a crowd of pedestrians and hit eight of them before slamming into a gate.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Paul has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.
    — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • The first mode is a more simple impact detonation — simply put, smacking the asteroid's surface to create a shallow crater, in which a nuclear device is exploded.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 7 July 2026
  • Gill saved the first shot in the penalty shootout against Germany, diving to his left and smacking away the ball headed for the back of the net.
    — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • And on bikes no-one sane would ever consider banging around a racetrack on.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • After the game, Haaland led the players with a Norwegian row at midfield, banging a drum with a giant smile on his face.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • On Monday against the Phoenix Mercury, Clark spent the game peeved at the officials and picked up her fifth technical after clapping in an antagonizing manner toward a rival.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • This was not the first time this season the two-time All-Star has been seen clapping toward other players or officials during a game.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of clapping

Browse Nearby Words

box (in)
boxing
boxing (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Boxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxing. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on boxing

Nglish: Translation of boxing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boxing

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