as in punch
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
dealt his opponent a haymaker that sent him reeling across the boxing ring
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of haymaker
Those fans who arrived after kickoff missed a chaotic beginning as the talented offenses delivered haymakers.
—
Matt Roy, Boston Herald, 22 Nov. 2025
These teams are trading haymakers.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Against a Packers team that some have pinned as NFC favorites, the Dallas offense hung with Green Bay in a haymaker fight that had both arms being raised at the conclusion.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
The Miami Dolphins certainly took a haymaker to the face on Wednesday courtesy of the Detroit Lions.
—Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haymaker
Matt Roy, Boston Herald, 22 Nov. 2025
These teams are trading haymakers.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Against a Packers team that some have pinned as NFC favorites, the Dallas offense hung with Green Bay in a haymaker fight that had both arms being raised at the conclusion.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
The Miami Dolphins certainly took a haymaker to the face on Wednesday courtesy of the Detroit Lions.
—Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haymaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haymaker
Noun
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With a light snow falling outside McCamish Pavilion, Henri Veesaar gave North Carolina (17-4, 5-3 ACC) a devastating 1-2 punch on the inside with 20 points and 12 rebounds.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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Located just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Cypress Mountain is more of a commuter hill than a destination resort, but its terrain punches well above its weight.—
Brent Rose,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Reigns flipped Gunther onto the edge of the ring and went for the knockout blow, but it was countered.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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After being victimized by a pair of Bulls blow-bys in his initial stint, there was no additional stint, with Jovic instead moved up when Adebayo went out.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And then, when Stafford and Rodgers and the Titans said no thanks, Schoen landed with a thud on … Russell Wilson.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Panthers’ run game ended the 2025 regular season with a thud.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Then that final line, where Benedict asks Sophie to be his mistress, is just a slap to the senses.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Yes, the Old Fashioned is typically a boozy, whiskey-forward, slap-you-across-the-face thing, and, yes, chamomile is typically a bedtime, steaming mug, snuggle-up-under-a-blanket thing.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Director Ric Roman Waugh has a nice, gritty visual style and the fists and bullets land hard here, less stylish balletic and more thump thump.—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
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In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Things have been bad between Bass and Horvath for more than a year, with the two Democrats taking veiled, and sometimes not-so-veiled, swipes at each other.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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The final touch was a couple of swipes of Huda Beauty’s Power Bullet Matte Lipstick* in the shade—wait for it—Honeymoon.—
Jesa Marie Calaor,
Allure,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite a disappointing launch back in 2016, the developers stuck with it and have crafted a wildly successful and long-running space sim that feels like a greatest hits montage of all the games that came before it.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Jacob in the kind of Shoresy and Letterkenny family, which were more cult hits, but did well.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Shortly after court ended, Rochelle answered a knock at her door.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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Also, the wooden knock board standing in an in-use trash container counts as a no-no.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haymaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haymaker. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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