as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pummel
Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images Bitcoin is getting pummeled to kick off June as the market loses its dominant narrative and liquidity continues to rotate into other assets.
—
Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Argan-scented toiletries in bathrooms are a lovely treat in the glass showers, which pummel bathers with excellent water pressure.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Bathroom bans, health care restrictions and other state measures pummeled Florida while Texas slipped because of anti-trans legislation.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 1 June 2026
As in no playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons — a team that pummeled the Knicks in their three-game regular-season sweep — courtesy of the Cavaliers.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Argan-scented toiletries in bathrooms are a lovely treat in the glass showers, which pummel bathers with excellent water pressure.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Bathroom bans, health care restrictions and other state measures pummeled Florida while Texas slipped because of anti-trans legislation.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 1 June 2026
As in no playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons — a team that pummeled the Knicks in their three-game regular-season sweep — courtesy of the Cavaliers.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
-
Chalk it up to a bad match, and lick your wounds.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
-
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
This automatically measures the distance between the edges of the folding panels, uses sensors to detect offsets and recalibrates the brightness of adjacent LEDs to hide the tiny slot.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
-
Achieving it in reality would be brutally hard because the target moves, hides, jams, uses decoys, and fights back.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
They might be jolted awake with a pounding heart, multiple times a night, for years.—
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
-
When the worker said yes, there followed a cacophony of voices, radios, and pounding boots as police stormed the property.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The score was still 3-1 after 20 minutes, but Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb beat Bussi with a shot from the circles that crossed the goal line a fraction of a second after the clock hit zero.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
The Carolina Hurricanes have evened up the Stanley Cup Final once more thanks to Jordan Staal’s two-goal night in Las Vegas to beat the Golden Knights in Game 4, 5-3.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Lately, though, the president has upset religious conservatives by posting a Christ-like image of himself online as well as lashing out at Pope Leo and the Vatican.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
Iran’s lashing out at Israel for the sake of Hezbollah carries major risks.—
Sam Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
12 June 2026
-
At one point, about a dozen people, most wearing Knicks jerseys, jumped on top of a cab stuck in traffic and stomped on and busted the front windshield, while several revelers took turns using belts to whip the hood of the taxi, according to bystander video.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Police, familiar with unrest in the city, were on standby with cordons of armored cars, which were quickly pelted with projectiles by the rioters.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
9 June 2026
-
Hail pelted the Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Home plate umpire Dan Iassogna called a third strike, but Madrigal argued with the umpire, emphatically slapping his head.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Rojas slapped a single up the middle to put the Royals ahead.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
