as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
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Recent Examples of pummel
In his first at-bat Tuesday night, Betts fell behind 0-2 to Rockies starter Kyle Freeland before pummeling a heater in the zone to center field for a two-run blast.
—
Katie Woo, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Officials say the artisanal gold miners became trapped about 200 yards into the mine when early monsoon rains pummeled the south of the country.
—Matt Gutman, CBS News, 27 May 2026
No, instead let’s stall until the American public is pummeled with national debt and prices.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
Surging food costs and fuel prices are pummeling Maine's struggling groundfishing industry.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Katie Woo, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Officials say the artisanal gold miners became trapped about 200 yards into the mine when early monsoon rains pummeled the south of the country.
—Matt Gutman, CBS News, 27 May 2026
No, instead let’s stall until the American public is pummeled with national debt and prices.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
Surging food costs and fuel prices are pummeling Maine's struggling groundfishing industry.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
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When the tiffin is returned licked clean, Ila sends another meal but with a note, leading to a rich correspondence between the two.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
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Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
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If not too bad, it can be ignored and new growth should hide the blemishes.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
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Buddy was hiding in the bushes on the side of a desolate highway when he was found by a good Samaritan and brought to a rescue.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The Israeli military early Thursday pounded Lebanon’s fourth largest city, killing at least 14 people across the south of the country in its ongoing military escalation against the Hezbollah group ahead of crucial talks in Washington.—
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Fighter jets roared overhead, and air strikes pounded the surrounding hillsides, sending up thick plumes of acrid smoke.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Supposedly the poem was inspired by a peyote-vision where the edifice of San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel was transformed into a hideous, twisted, demonic visage, which inspired the beating heart of Howl’s second section.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Matt Olson’s solo home run in the sixth inning proved to be the difference Tuesday as the Braves beat the visiting Blue Jays 4-3 at Truist Park, beginning the three-game series with their 15th series-opening victory of the season.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
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This torturous ordeal marked Mee’s first time entering this cave, located in the foothills of a mining project near the village of Long Tieng, hours away from the nearest cities and on muddy roads that have been lashed by the rainy season.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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Putin is lashing out by intensifying assaults on civilian targets, especially in the capital city of Kyiv.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The wind whipped her face and her little legs stretched higher and higher, pulling her into orbit.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Last month, as a steady, pre-rainy season wind whipped off the Atlantic Ocean, the sounds of samba, morna and jazz filled the streets.—
Ricci Shryock,
NPR,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Police were pelted with chairs, cans, rocks and flares late Tuesday by some of the hundreds who attended a protest in the southern English coast city of Southampton, where Henry Nowak was killed in December.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
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Photos published on Sunday, May 31, show the happy couple in their wedding finery, leaving Old Marylebone Town Hall hand in hand a day earlier and being pelted with confetti.—
Kim Willis,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Ripley slapped Jade, mid-pushup, then dumped Cargill to the outside.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Everton’s hopes of securing a first win at Old Trafford since 2013 seemed over when midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off in the 13th minute for slapping team-mate Michael Keane.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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