pelting 1 of 2

noun

Definition of peltingnext
as in whipping

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

pelting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pelt
1
as in scurrying
to proceed or move quickly pelted away when the cops arrived

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in throwing
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm pelted snowballs at each other while waiting for the bus

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly pelted the other kids with pebbles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pelting
Verb
Rain pelting the walls of every home like black stones from LockMull Beach. — Literary Hub, 9 July 2026 Police fired tear gas and pepper spray at protesters who were pelting them with rocks, eggs and other objects. — Hameraldi Agolli, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Les Bleus returned to play looking refreshed — practically pelting the Swedish goal with attempts, and yet somehow nothing went in. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 The pelting rain overhead and the runoff streaming over the pine roots around us, draining toward the lake, sounded like an industrial roar. — John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026 Heavy rain pelting the barn’s roof could be heard throughout the interview. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 June 2026 Friduss recalled marble-sized hail pelting the boat just before, after a discussion with some other men on the boat, Pickles made a decision to again try to steer for Homewood Marina. — Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026 Benavidez, even when being backed down by Ramirez, delivered his signature rapid-fire combinations, usually pelting his opponent's head. — ABC News, 3 May 2026 Pok rounded his building's corner, head down, embarrassment pounding at his ears and rain pelting the nape of his neck. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelting
  1. whipping
  2. scurrying
  3. throwing
  4. pounding
  5. smashing
  6. hurrying
  7. hurling
  8. licking
Noun
  • The hunger was secondary to her desperate prayers for the whipping to stop.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The indulgent, playful, and dessert-like mixed drink, which features crème de menthe, crème de cacao, heavy whipping cream, and brandy, came in second place at the event.
    — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 27 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Hikers often spot these charismatic creatures perched on boulders or scurrying through wildflowers.
    — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Set on a stage at the very highest level of the stands, that similarly crowded performance looked like a Grammys medley on video but must have resembled ants scurrying around a screensaver to much of the in-person audience.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 19 July 2026
Definition of scurrying
Verb
  • As the chase ensued, police said the suspect began throwing various items out the window.
    — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Tension seemed to boil over for Jackson, as he was suspended for a period or two of practice after throwing a punch in a scuffle with Giants defenders.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of throwing
Verb
  • Visually, the entire set was stunning, with fast cuts of Nancy Whang pounding on her keyboard, Al Doyle whirring his synthesizer, and Murphy shouting into his microphone, wrapped around his arm.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping a potty close by will give little ones a better chance of reaching it on time when nature has given up on calling and is pounding down the door.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounding
Noun
  • Wrigley Field, a National Historic Landmark built in 1914, had never seen a debut this smashing.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This year’s record-smashing El Niño will do more than just shift and enhance patterns of heat, extreme rainfall and drought around the world.
    — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of smashing
Verb
  • That’s how Drake Maye ended his latest two-minute drill at Patriots training camp Monday, a meandering march that began around midfield and ended with Maye hurrying the offense to the 3-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
Definition of hurrying
Verb
  • The storm was still hurling in a few bands of rain to Kauai early Monday, but its worst conditions are now over with, giving residents and officials space to deal with its aftermath.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Ryan released the child, after which he was handcuffed and is accused of hurling insults at the responding police officer, according to the police report.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurling
Verb
  • Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Photos like the one below show children licking massive ice blocks for a slight reprieve from the summer heat.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of licking

Browse Nearby Words

pelted
pelting
pelts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pelting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelting. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of devolve

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All