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
Certainly, the viewership for the Coca-Cola 600 won’t rival that of Thursday night football (the NFL pummels every other American pro sports league in terms of TV ratings).
—
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
The Boston City Council unanimously approved a home rule petition that would hike disability pension benefits for a former city schoolteacher who was pummeled by a 16-year-old student in a 2021 attack that left her with traumatic brain damage.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
The Kansas City area was pummeled with up to 4 inches of rain, 80 mph winds and hail on Monday afternoon.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2025
After trailing by double digits in every prior game of the series, the Knicks flipped the script — pummeling the Celtics in a wire-to-wire 119-81 rout to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, their first appearance since 2000.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
The Boston City Council unanimously approved a home rule petition that would hike disability pension benefits for a former city schoolteacher who was pummeled by a 16-year-old student in a 2021 attack that left her with traumatic brain damage.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
The Kansas City area was pummeled with up to 4 inches of rain, 80 mph winds and hail on Monday afternoon.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2025
After trailing by double digits in every prior game of the series, the Knicks flipped the script — pummeling the Celtics in a wire-to-wire 119-81 rout to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, their first appearance since 2000.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
-
The flames that licked through the football fields and tennis courts at Pali High devoured touchstones of an iconic campus—featured in films like Carrie and Freaky Friday.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
5 June 2025
-
Besides, Angela already got her lick back from Porsha’s comments about Charles by instigating the already precarious relationship between Porsha and her bestie and bringing Drew the news that Porsha filmed with Dennis.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
-
How Was Antonio Navarro Murdered? At 7:30 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 16, 2017, as Antonio was leaving for work, Salvador hid in the couple’s building garage, according to TIME.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Every time my phone rang, my heart started pounding.—
Matt Wolf,
Vulture,
28 May 2025
-
After the car came to a stop, the video showed, angry Liverpool fans swarmed it again, pounding on its windows and exterior as police rushed to secure the scene.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
The men beat 27-year-old Chin with a baseball bat, cracking his skull.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
-
The Oilers, who finished third in the Pacific Division, beat the Los Angeles Kings in six games, the Vegas Golden Knights in five games and the Dallas Stars in five games to return to the Stanley Cup Final.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Bosses who lash out to get workers in line, by contrast, often feel a sense of accomplishment.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
-
The hostilities began when Trump lashed out at Musk's criticism of the Republican tax-cut and spending bill, and quickly escalated into an all-out online brawl on Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X, with prominent businessmen, analysts and political names weighing in on the fight.—
Anniek Bao,Dylan Butts,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
-
This small kitchen appliance has a variable speed trigger switch to make blending, pureeing, frothing, whipping and chopping as easy as pressing a button.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
Minutes before a team of fully uniformed, stick-carrying players were to leave the dressing room to take the ice for the national anthem, a rat pelted across the carpet.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
-
And then sit there getting pelted by even more rain and win.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
The European Union has been working to strike a trade agreement with the US, conscious in particular of Trump’s recent threat to slap a 50% tariff on goods arriving from the bloc.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
-
Price hikes happened quickly after Trump slapped steep levies on trading partners, whether large or small.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share