as in punching
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
sick of being insulted, he swung around and clocked his tormentor hard enough to knock him off his bar stool
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clocking
Melissa’s winds were consistently clocking at 185 mph.
—
Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Both kids were clocking everything, and absorbing a few lessons that would help and hinder them down the line.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
In 2013, Tal Braude of Torrey Pines High School raced across the finish line at Fresno’s Woodward Park, clocking a 3-mile time of 15 minutes, 2 seconds.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025
The very strongest moments of DMV, CBS’ brand-new single-cam, tap into that sense of stuck-ness, intensified by clocking in each day to that most purgatorial of government institutions.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
Markets tumbled on the back of the president’s tariff threat, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each clocking their worst days since April.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
There’s no shame in clocking a bit behind MacKinnon; save a few, that’s true for every player in the league.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025
Spilling the Sweet Southern Hospitality Vegas, brace yourself – Charleston’s hottest nightlife crew is clocking in for a show-stopping shift with Republic-level revelry.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 30 Sep. 2025
The stars of Scrubs are clocking back in for another shift together.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Both kids were clocking everything, and absorbing a few lessons that would help and hinder them down the line.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
In 2013, Tal Braude of Torrey Pines High School raced across the finish line at Fresno’s Woodward Park, clocking a 3-mile time of 15 minutes, 2 seconds.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025
The very strongest moments of DMV, CBS’ brand-new single-cam, tap into that sense of stuck-ness, intensified by clocking in each day to that most purgatorial of government institutions.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
Markets tumbled on the back of the president’s tariff threat, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each clocking their worst days since April.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
There’s no shame in clocking a bit behind MacKinnon; save a few, that’s true for every player in the league.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025
Spilling the Sweet Southern Hospitality Vegas, brace yourself – Charleston’s hottest nightlife crew is clocking in for a show-stopping shift with Republic-level revelry.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 30 Sep. 2025
The stars of Scrubs are clocking back in for another shift together.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clocking
Verb
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In 2023, when video circulated of a police officer punching Christina Pierre, Jennings announced meetings with community leaders to rework policy.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Oct. 2025
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Her past was practically punching its way out of her.—
Natalia Paradies,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gausman had retired 17 straight Dodger batters until the seventh inning, when Smith yet again got the best of him, hitting a solo home run to break the stale mate.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
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The singing voices behind KPop Demon Hunters' beloved girl group HUNTR/X will be hitting the stage to perform live in concert for the first time.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Known as knockers in England, kobolds also live in caves and mines and make knocking noises directing human miners where to dig.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At one point, Ginger is seen repeatedly slapping Jesse’s behind.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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He's also accused of slapping a nearby female passenger and trying to hit a crew member.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Authorities said extra officers and detectives were patrolling the area Thursday when a resident near Angus Drive and the park called 911 shortly after midnight to report what police described as a loud, banging noise sounding from their vehicle and a figure standing next to the car.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Maeve is in the hen house with Jayson, banging his gun around and nearly strangling her.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Ford said earlier that his province was spending $75 million to run ads in the United States slamming the impact of tariffs and featuring clips of Reagan.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the season four premiere of Mayor of Kingstown, co-creators/writers Hugh Dillon and Taylor Sheridan waste no time smacking viewers with a sense of doom and gloom.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
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The two had a peculiar conversation where Hawkins said Clifton missed smacking her rear end.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Next to a wooden model of an ibis and a Brazil shirt signed by 1994 World Cup winner Ricardo Rocha is a small newspaper clipping.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Tie branches with twine and add evergreen tassels, then insert photos in the branches, clipping them on, if needed, to hold in place.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clocking. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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