as in hammering
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1
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
pounding down the road as fast as he could run
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in banging
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
pounding nails into boards all day long
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
during the storm the waves furiously pounded the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in drawing
to shape with a hammer
pounding out a depression in the metal
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in grinding
to reduce to fine particles
the tablet may be pounded and mixed in with the animal's food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pounding
Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
But perhaps the constant pounding was just too much for the pier, built in 1973.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Most of those killed died during the second pounding.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Another popular belief is that the pounding of the raindrops on the ground mimics the sound of moles hunting for food, and the worms flee to escape being on the mole’s menu.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
However, while chemically the same, beach sand is made up of tiny crystals of quartz that have been pulverized by geological weathering and the pounding of ocean waves.
—John Ballato, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
This section of shoreline is lined with cliffs, below which are sea caves, formed over centuries by the relentless pounding of Lake Superior waves.
—Stephanie Pearson, Outside, 19 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Eight miles down the road, Ragsdale’s friend and Alva’s former ESL teacher Lisa Weinstein woke up to pounding at her door.
—Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Mid-bite, players started pounding on tables.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 June 2026
They might be jolted awake with a pounding heart, multiple times a night, for years.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
When the worker said yes, there followed a cacophony of voices, radios, and pounding boots as police stormed the property.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
One of my favorite side dishes starts by rehydrating them, then pounding them in a mortar and pestle to release all that concentrated flavor.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2026
The White Claw generation, used to pounding cans of seltzers at backyard barbecues and feeling nothing more than a light buzz, doesn’t yet seem to understand how to responsibly partake in these new products.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
The segments that follow Bonnier de La Chapelle are admittedly more successful and sophisticated, bringing to mind the heart-pounding essence of a Costa-Gavras political thriller.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
Noun
Rutted migration routes, carved by the constant pounding of animal hooves, littered northern Pennsylvania.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
But perhaps the constant pounding was just too much for the pier, built in 1973.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Most of those killed died during the second pounding.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Another popular belief is that the pounding of the raindrops on the ground mimics the sound of moles hunting for food, and the worms flee to escape being on the mole’s menu.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
However, while chemically the same, beach sand is made up of tiny crystals of quartz that have been pulverized by geological weathering and the pounding of ocean waves.
—John Ballato, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
This section of shoreline is lined with cliffs, below which are sea caves, formed over centuries by the relentless pounding of Lake Superior waves.
—Stephanie Pearson, Outside, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Joseph, Nomkhitha and the children stood silently around the dining-room table, trying to calm their pounding hearts; the littlest ones shivered from the cold and fear.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Eight miles down the road, Ragsdale’s friend and Alva’s former ESL teacher Lisa Weinstein woke up to pounding at her door.
—Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Mid-bite, players started pounding on tables.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 June 2026
They might be jolted awake with a pounding heart, multiple times a night, for years.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
When the worker said yes, there followed a cacophony of voices, radios, and pounding boots as police stormed the property.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
One of my favorite side dishes starts by rehydrating them, then pounding them in a mortar and pestle to release all that concentrated flavor.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2026
The White Claw generation, used to pounding cans of seltzers at backyard barbecues and feeling nothing more than a light buzz, doesn’t yet seem to understand how to responsibly partake in these new products.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
The segments that follow Bonnier de La Chapelle are admittedly more successful and sophisticated, bringing to mind the heart-pounding essence of a Costa-Gavras political thriller.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounding
Noun
-
During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
That day in 2022, Pencov heard a hammering at the front door.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The model of shuffling that the new result depends on, like Bayer and Diaconis’ before it, still assumes that the cards riffle down one by one, rather than in clumps.—
John Pavlus,
Quanta Magazine,
17 June 2026
-
The Calgary Flames will play their final season at Scotiabank Saddledome before shuffling into Scotia Place in 2027.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Cars pushed through the crowd, hitting at least one person as agitators continued banging, kicking and blocking government vehicles.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
The new transmission responded more quickly and reduced involuntary head banging in the car’s cabin.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Rahm is a more tame thrill ride who should be licking his chops at a venue like this, but could succumb to the conditions and never recover.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
Monitor pets for behavioral changes, as pets may experience pain, licking or chewing at a wound, loss of appetite and lethargy.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
In Game 3, Wembanyama shocked Knicks fans by pushing Jalen Brunson to the floor without drawing a foul.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
-
Indonesia is drawing the wrong kind of attention in emerging‑market circles.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The boys were grinding today, my goodness.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Thursday’s 118-91 thrashing, though, invited more than a Game 7.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
The Fever, perhaps more terribly potent with each passing day, is a two-hour spiral into the thrashing, slowly awakening soul of a Good Middle-Class Liberal.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
That feeling solidified during their solo date, which included stomping grapes, exploring a winery and making a promise to open a special bottle of wine together one year later.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
In the grainy video, an individual is seen appearing to throw a woman to the ground in the North Philadelphia alley and then hitting her repeatedly in the head with a brick, kicking her, and stomping her face, WPVI reported.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pounding. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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