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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pounding
Norma Torres, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
In that room, Cristobal didn’t come down hard on his staff, no yelling or pounding of the table.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Had the pounding on his front door happened just a little later in the afternoon, Eads would most likely have returned home to learn of a tragedy.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
The pounding ensued even more with a touchdown from senior halfback Ibrahim Kaba and a bomb caught by Ramar Thomas to close out the game.
—Patrick Plunkett, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
There was a ringing in his ears, the pounding of blood as his body fought to stay upright.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Russia is intensifying its pounding of Ukraine, with June seeing the highest civilian casualties in three years.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
By Jason Mackey Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PALM BEACH GARDENS — The pop of a catcher’s mitt mixed with saws screeching and hammers pounding provides an appropriate soundtrack inside Paul Skenes’ offseason workout facility, a baseball-lover’s paradise and an encapsulation of his unique personality.
—Tribune News Service, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Tackling themes of free will, the slippery slope of police surveillance, and more, the film raises potent questions on our technological future while also delivering as a pulse-pounding thriller.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Tense police dramas, heart-pounding spy thrillers and a glorious return to The Seven Kingdoms all await your viewing pleasure this January weekend.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Democrats are pounding the administration with an election-year message centered on affordability, arguing that the president and his allies have failed to bring down costs for everyday Americans.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Texas has turned it over just five times against one of the SEC's best ball-hawking defenses, Pope and Matas Vokietaitis each have 12 points, and the Longhorns are pounding Vanderbilt on the glass, 21-10.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026
In a matter of eight days, the Hornets (14-26) have gone from pummeling the defending champion in Oklahoma City to losing consecutive games at home to Toronto and Indiana in gut-wrenching fashion to recording the largest margin of victory on the road in franchise history by pounding Utah.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
After many years spent pounding the campaign trail for projects like Rustin and Sing Sing, the two-time Oscar nominee was simply a presenter at last night’s Golden Globes.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
The memories remained from crawling across the balcony, the pounding on the chamber doors, the screams echoing through the rotunda.
—Norma Torres, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
In that room, Cristobal didn’t come down hard on his staff, no yelling or pounding of the table.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Had the pounding on his front door happened just a little later in the afternoon, Eads would most likely have returned home to learn of a tragedy.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
The pounding ensued even more with a touchdown from senior halfback Ibrahim Kaba and a bomb caught by Ramar Thomas to close out the game.
—Patrick Plunkett, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
There was a ringing in his ears, the pounding of blood as his body fought to stay upright.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Russia is intensifying its pounding of Ukraine, with June seeing the highest civilian casualties in three years.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Archival footage illustrates, in pulse-pounding and nerve-rattling fashion, just how widespread calls for Rushdie’s murder were.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
By Jason Mackey Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PALM BEACH GARDENS — The pop of a catcher’s mitt mixed with saws screeching and hammers pounding provides an appropriate soundtrack inside Paul Skenes’ offseason workout facility, a baseball-lover’s paradise and an encapsulation of his unique personality.
—Tribune News Service, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Tackling themes of free will, the slippery slope of police surveillance, and more, the film raises potent questions on our technological future while also delivering as a pulse-pounding thriller.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Tense police dramas, heart-pounding spy thrillers and a glorious return to The Seven Kingdoms all await your viewing pleasure this January weekend.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Democrats are pounding the administration with an election-year message centered on affordability, arguing that the president and his allies have failed to bring down costs for everyday Americans.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Texas has turned it over just five times against one of the SEC's best ball-hawking defenses, Pope and Matas Vokietaitis each have 12 points, and the Longhorns are pounding Vanderbilt on the glass, 21-10.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026
In a matter of eight days, the Hornets (14-26) have gone from pummeling the defending champion in Oklahoma City to losing consecutive games at home to Toronto and Indiana in gut-wrenching fashion to recording the largest margin of victory on the road in franchise history by pounding Utah.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
After many years spent pounding the campaign trail for projects like Rustin and Sing Sing, the two-time Oscar nominee was simply a presenter at last night’s Golden Globes.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounding
Noun
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Eric Freeny blocked Smith, Bilodeau grabbed the loose ball and threw an outlet to Dailey for a hammering dunk.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraine’s energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even when the locals lost faith, Villa remained focused, forever shuffling side to side and defending with the same urgency.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Go on a street food tour Street food tours are great things to do in Sicily and a fabulous alternative to hours of shuffling through museums.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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My ten-year-old granddaughter was marching and banging her little saucepan with a salad spoon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Online posts questioning the city’s account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Alpha School, which purports to teach children academics using AI, is drawing both praise and criticism.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The self-driving cabs have also been involved in numerous accidents and have been caught violating traffic laws, drawing the attention of federal regulators.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Most entrepreneurs are grinding themselves into the ground following advice that wasn't made for them.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
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Last season’s 56-7 thrashing of former college football power Nebraska.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Han will be posted up by the Milennium Falcon and/or Oga’s Cantina, Luke will be stomping his Chanel boots in the marketplace, and Darth Vader will be force-choking dads in Grumpy tees.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
14 Jan. 2026
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Then there’s the people watching, from the tailgating to the communal divot stomping, full of dramatic sun dresses and hats with flourishes, seersucker suits and, yes, hats with flourishes.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pounding. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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