as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
give the nail a final pound with the hammer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in cages
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals
stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in shuffles
to move heavily or clumsily
pounding down the road as fast as he could run
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hits
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 licks
to strike repeatedly
during the storm the waves furiously pounded the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in grinds
to reduce to fine particles
the tablet may be pounded and mixed in with the animal's food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of pounds
Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Reid has a knack for killing opposing breakaways and retrieving loose pucks, which makes up for not being the most physical defenseman at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Ghia’s take on the XK140 was likely even faster, since its lightweight aluminum body—replacing the standard model’s steel shell—shaved as much as 220 pounds.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 13 May 2026
When completed, the new enclosure weighed seventy pounds.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Altidor is the subject of a flyer that describes him as 6 feet 2 inches and 300 pounds.
—Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
The kayak is a two-seater measuring slightly over 10 feet long and weighs in at 35 pounds, but don’t worry about finding garage space for it or hoisting it onto the roof of your vehicle.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
SpaceX then announced May 9 that the spacecraft had been fully integrated on the launch pad ahead of a launch rehearsal that involved fueling the rocket with more than 11 million pounds of propellant.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 May 2026
During the searches, the AG's office said 5 pounds of fentanyl, 7 pounds of heroin, 3,000 fentanyl pills, 48 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of cocaine and 2 pounds of marijuana were seized.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
James is staring into the middle distance while Luka pounds the air out of the Spalding for twenty seconds per possession.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
That person, John Weil, is a former real estate developer who pounds the pavement looking for potential conversion candidates.
—J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2026
In the present, Simon (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) pounds his car’s steering wheel, driving away from wreckage.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The claw then releases the broken bikes and pounds them down once more for good measure.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Burrell pounds his way down to the four-yard line.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Nunley’s fish weighed in at a staggering 15 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces and measured 27 7/8 inches long, officially breaking a state record that had stood for more than 11 years.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Reid has a knack for killing opposing breakaways and retrieving loose pucks, which makes up for not being the most physical defenseman at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Ghia’s take on the XK140 was likely even faster, since its lightweight aluminum body—replacing the standard model’s steel shell—shaved as much as 220 pounds.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 13 May 2026
When completed, the new enclosure weighed seventy pounds.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Altidor is the subject of a flyer that describes him as 6 feet 2 inches and 300 pounds.
—Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
The kayak is a two-seater measuring slightly over 10 feet long and weighs in at 35 pounds, but don’t worry about finding garage space for it or hoisting it onto the roof of your vehicle.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
SpaceX then announced May 9 that the spacecraft had been fully integrated on the launch pad ahead of a launch rehearsal that involved fueling the rocket with more than 11 million pounds of propellant.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 May 2026
During the searches, the AG's office said 5 pounds of fentanyl, 7 pounds of heroin, 3,000 fentanyl pills, 48 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of cocaine and 2 pounds of marijuana were seized.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Verb
That game enabled the younger brother to mentally shift from a pitcher prone to walks to a pitcher who now consistently pounds the zone.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
James is staring into the middle distance while Luka pounds the air out of the Spalding for twenty seconds per possession.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
That person, John Weil, is a former real estate developer who pounds the pavement looking for potential conversion candidates.
—J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2026
In the present, Simon (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) pounds his car’s steering wheel, driving away from wreckage.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The claw then releases the broken bikes and pounds them down once more for good measure.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Burrell pounds his way down to the four-yard line.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounds
Noun
-
However, there’s usually an honor code with that – nothing else but punches and giving the fight crowd a show.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Reigns hit a pair of Superman punches, but Fatu hit a kick.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The facility was also found in violation of the Animal Welfare Act, according to the inspection report, by placing animals in cages smaller than required by federal regulations.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
-
Sloth World was issued a verbal warning following the inspection, during which the cages were found not to meet the agency's requirements.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When a heat wave hits, millions of air conditioners switch on at once, straining the electric grid and driving up the risk of outages — and residents’ power bills.—
Kiki Sideris,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Zesica Flutter-sleeve Smocked Midi Dress Flattering and versatile, this dress hits the sweet spot between refined and playful.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
While Deborah licks her wounds from bombing very, very hard, the Frank interview plays.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The proximity to Piedmont Park and the neighborhood's walkability is part of what draws newcomers to Midtown.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
The title, from which the band also draws its name, describes the pay bump workers are mandated to get in times of economic flux, setting the table for the band’s ever-unsparing critiques of life under capitalism.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The production, directed with the brooding fluidity that is David Cromer’s calling card, is most alive in the evolving dynamic between Nick and Jacki, whose romance happens by degrees then all at once before reality intervenes and the criminal justice bureaucracy grinds to a halt.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This incident also led to Eckert and Hellberg nearly coming to blows before being separated by the fourth official.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange blows, mainly in southern Lebanon, since a nominal ceasefire took hold last month.—
Compiled byDemocrat-Gazette stafffrom wire reports,
Arkansas Online,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pounds. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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