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
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
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
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
Moisés Ballesteros, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ homered, and the Chicago Cubs handed the Mets their ninth straight loss, pounding New York 12-4 on Friday.
—CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
The video shows the pacing man pounding on the front door and attempting to kick it in before yanking down a hanging doorbell fixture near the entryway and hurling it at the doorway.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Visitors can enjoy heart-pounding adventures like zip lining through the forest canopy, rock climbing on the gorge’s steep cliffs, and whitewater rafting on the New River’s epic Class I to V rapids.
—Jordan Charbonneau, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
Eyes wide and heart pounding, Jason watched as the clock ticked away, as the Kansas City Chiefs racked up points against his Baltimore Ravens, and as the odds, and score, tipped insurmountably in their favor.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
His last album, 2024’s Dostrotime, essentially threw all that together with the pituitary-pounding tempos and aggressive programming of classic Squarepusher, creating a kind of maximalist career summation.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 9 Apr. 2026
Skenes got through the fourth in 10 pitches, however, while Pivetta finished the inning with a nine-pitch walk to Ryan O’Hearn and a nine-pitch strikeout of Nick Yorke and walked off the mound a fourth time pounding his bare hand against his glove having thrown 69 pitches in all.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
There's been no country that's ever taken a pounding like that.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
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
Verb
Workers and technicians are hammering away in preparation for the return of Blue Man Group to Orlando, right down to the placement and pounding of PVC pipes, one of the ensemble’s distinctive musical instruments.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
Moisés Ballesteros, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ homered, and the Chicago Cubs handed the Mets their ninth straight loss, pounding New York 12-4 on Friday.
—CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
The video shows the pacing man pounding on the front door and attempting to kick it in before yanking down a hanging doorbell fixture near the entryway and hurling it at the doorway.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Visitors can enjoy heart-pounding adventures like zip lining through the forest canopy, rock climbing on the gorge’s steep cliffs, and whitewater rafting on the New River’s epic Class I to V rapids.
—Jordan Charbonneau, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
Eyes wide and heart pounding, Jason watched as the clock ticked away, as the Kansas City Chiefs racked up points against his Baltimore Ravens, and as the odds, and score, tipped insurmountably in their favor.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
His last album, 2024’s Dostrotime, essentially threw all that together with the pituitary-pounding tempos and aggressive programming of classic Squarepusher, creating a kind of maximalist career summation.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 9 Apr. 2026
Skenes got through the fourth in 10 pitches, however, while Pivetta finished the inning with a nine-pitch walk to Ryan O’Hearn and a nine-pitch strikeout of Nick Yorke and walked off the mound a fourth time pounding his bare hand against his glove having thrown 69 pitches in all.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
There's been no country that's ever taken a pounding like that.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounding
Noun
-
An abduction sequence ties the audience’s nerves in knots with cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s athletic tracking shot loping up the stairs to Margot’s apartment accompanied by Gavin Brivik’s pulse-hammering score.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Yes, Super Mario Galaxy Movie will have all the hammering power of Imax and PLF screens.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, no rotation shuffling is imminent with Rodón expected to make at least three rehab starts and Cole moving at a slower pace following Tommy John surgery.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The famed Rendezvous Ballroom dance floor was so packed, couples would have to do their moves in a close embrace, posture upright while doing short half steps, swiftly shuffling their feet as the partners stepped out and in, over and over, in a rhythmic swing.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stand on the corner banging pots and pans.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Canucks took a 2-1 lead on a power play 52 seconds into the middle frame, banging home the loose puck off Brock Boeser’s shot past Kuemper for his 22nd.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s Cassie licking a melting ice cream cone as the ice cream drips down her bare chest.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Your table will be licking their fingers.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The bet-the-event activity is drawing attention to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees the vast trading contracts industry, including prediction markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
By drawing more traders to Hong Kong, authorities expect a knock-on boost to shipping demand.—
Lee Ying Shan,Emily Tan,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Best Krups coffee grinders This is perfect for precision grinding for cold brew, espresso and pour-over coffee.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His only Champions League goal arrived in January’s 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, and his only assists in the competition came in similarly comfortable wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Wild video captured the moment a young fisherman plunged into pounding Southern California surf to wrestle a thrashing shark and free it from his fishing line.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s the sound of clogs slowly stomping back into the spotlight.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
-
For pretty much every gamer alive today, those first few notes induce an almost Pavlovian response — sparking an urge to grab a controller on your lap that isn’t actually there and bringing to mind comfortable, warm memories of stomping Goombas and riding Yoshi on a quest to save Princess Peach.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pounding. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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