as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
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Recent Examples of pummel
Asuka pummeled Sky with more kicks, but Sky was able to hit a stomp to the chest to take down Asuka.
—
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
The argon’s jostling atoms will release electrons when, all too rarely, they’re pummeled by passing neutrinos, creating a signal that physicists can detect.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
As Pichai entered the water, waves pummeled his lanky frame.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
In September of 2024, Hurricane Helene pummeled the mountains of North Carolina, causing massive floods that uprooted trees and swept away entire homes.
—Will Croxton, CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
The argon’s jostling atoms will release electrons when, all too rarely, they’re pummeled by passing neutrinos, creating a signal that physicists can detect.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
As Pichai entered the water, waves pummeled his lanky frame.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
In September of 2024, Hurricane Helene pummeled the mountains of North Carolina, causing massive floods that uprooted trees and swept away entire homes.
—Will Croxton, CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
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The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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That day, Riley had been editing a sequence in which Corvette sneaks into a San Francisco condo owned by Christie, her fashion idol, by hiding inside a coffee delivery cart.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Bugs also tend to hide inside packaging, seams, or even the food itself.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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The park in Arlington features pulse-pounding water slides, relaxing lazy rivers, and family-friendly play areas.—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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In March, Israel dropped charges against five soldiers who had been accused of beating and sodomizing a Palestinian detainee in an alleged assault partially caught on camera.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Mike Yastrzemski drove in three, including two on his first homer of the season as part of a four-run fifth, and the Braves beat the Cubs 5-2 in the opener of a three-game series at Truist Park.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Harris also shows us the burn scars that ripple up Racine’s arm and across Anaia’s face, textured skin that makes strangers blanch, to which Racine lashes out defensively.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
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Steady and calm, Malcolm is often the voice of reason, even when his own children, Flora in particular, lash out.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
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There’s also a menu of small snacks, with mezzes like hummus, tzatziki, whipped feta, falafel, halloumi, artichoke and eggplant.—
Connie Ogle
May 15,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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The one-time Ducks first-round draft pick whipped a shot through traffic from just above the slot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Those incidents follow a disturbing wave of fans pelting performers with objects — from phones that injured Bebe Rexha to aggressive encounters with Billie Eilish — raising alarms about onstage safety.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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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,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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First baseman Ashley Griffin slapped an RBI single into center field, scoring catcher Beth Damon, extending the lead to 5-1 and ending Braswell’s day.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
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Firstman all but preemptively slapped an A24 logo on Club Kid, which doesn’t have distribution yet as of this writing, but his film really would fit into their stable of commercially friendly art flicks, down to its gooey heart.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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