as in punches
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
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Recent Examples of haymakers
After a double-overtime thriller to start the series, the teams have traded haymakers in the last five contests, setting up a one-game showdown for the right to play in the NBA Finals.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 May 2026
If Brunson is a knockout puncher, leaving opponents on the mat with devastating haymakers that turn the lights out, Anunoby specializes in body blows.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 28 May 2026
As both fighters were bloodied, Strickland said that Chimaev pointed to the mat near the end of the fifth round, which is a sign to fighters to start throwing haymakers.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
From that moment on, the Bulldogs and the Wizards exchanged haymakers until the final minute.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The latest haymakers thrown come courtesy of executive interviews in The Financial Times.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
The Broncos must not go down without throwing haymakers.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
The two heavyweights exchanged haymakers before Olivier caught Reaves with right hand and sent him to the ice.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
An all-time great and a two-time MVP trading haymakers in the form of go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter of a win-and-in environment.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 May 2026
If Brunson is a knockout puncher, leaving opponents on the mat with devastating haymakers that turn the lights out, Anunoby specializes in body blows.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 28 May 2026
As both fighters were bloodied, Strickland said that Chimaev pointed to the mat near the end of the fifth round, which is a sign to fighters to start throwing haymakers.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
From that moment on, the Bulldogs and the Wizards exchanged haymakers until the final minute.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The latest haymakers thrown come courtesy of executive interviews in The Financial Times.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
The Broncos must not go down without throwing haymakers.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
The two heavyweights exchanged haymakers before Olivier caught Reaves with right hand and sent him to the ice.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
An all-time great and a two-time MVP trading haymakers in the form of go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter of a win-and-in environment.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haymakers
Noun
-
Rhodes peppered Gunther with punches, a bionic elbow and a Pedigree for a nearfall.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Stockstill was throwing punches, but not connecting.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
From there, the two schools traded blows until intermission.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
-
According to the coroner, there was evidence of nine blows to the victim’s head and neck.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Rapp, up on Taft Point, heard two thuds.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Likewise, the score by Tony Doogan leans too heavily on generic electronic thuds, the kind that segue into a commercial break cliffhanger and an ad for blood pressure medicine.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Maxwell Bowman’s projection and video design are sharply on point, with clean and clear swipes and transitions that are the lifeblood of any live production.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Take a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe down the shower tiles, working in long swipes.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
Here, The Athletic reviews Everton’s season just gone — their first at Hill Dickinson Stadium and one of highs, lows, slaps and… toasters.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Moxley didn’t need a pep talk, just some stiff slaps from Marina Shafir.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
After first charting in 1975, Bryson had a pair of smash pop hits with theme songs from back-to-back Disney toons.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
-
Chase Herrell followed with 3⅔ scoreless innings while scattering three hits and striking out two.—
Jose de Jesus Ortiz,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
In metro Atlanta, the game of table tennis is helping people with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and people who have had strokes.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
-
Cantlay has gained strokes on approach in all 10 career visits to Muirfield, which is the most important for Jack's Place.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haymakers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haymakers. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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