as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pummel
Even the moderators of fan accounts have had to contend with cascade of attention constantly pummeling the show and its stars — and not all of it has been positive.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Oil prices spiked near $120 per barrel before falling back Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummeling financial markets.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Oil prices continued to soar on Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummeling financial markets.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
America's Gulf allies, pummeled for days by Iranian missiles and drones, are rapidly running out of interceptors to shoot down those projectiles, CBS News' Margaret Brennan has learned.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Oil prices spiked near $120 per barrel before falling back Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummeling financial markets.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Oil prices continued to soar on Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummeling financial markets.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
America's Gulf allies, pummeled for days by Iranian missiles and drones, are rapidly running out of interceptors to shoot down those projectiles, CBS News' Margaret Brennan has learned.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
-
The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The dog ignored him, and licked the boy’s face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, Smith didn’t hide his frustration.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Mar. 2026
-
And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
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Surprise, surprise, the drums started pounding for the SOB Act shortly after (though various legislative attempts have floated since Proposition 12 was passed) backed by a Midwestern congresswoman from a Big Pork state.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Texas should spend ALL of Wednesday’s practice working on beating the press and staying out of the corner on inbounds plays.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Venezuela stunned the United States in the World Baseball Classic final, beating the Americans 3-2 for the country's first WBC title.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Harvey Prager had been on watch for hours, steering through lashing rain and 20-foot waves in the Yucatan Channel.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of having a rational conversation with Nick, Gloria lashes out and the two split.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Drizzle it into balsamic vinaigrette, or take the plunge and whip it into caramel pots de crème.—
Kristen Hartke,
Saveur,
12 Mar. 2026
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The high waist bunched a little when seated, but it was hardly cause for breaking focus when attempting an inversion (the whipping wind, however, was another story).—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ball was pelted to left field at over 400 feet, and their patented celebration ensued.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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Participants were caught on video pelting NYPD officers with snowballs as police tried to respond to a 911 call.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The administration has also slapped tariffs on some specific products, including steel, lumber, and cars.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
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The ingredients aren’t random cocktail names slapped onto standard drinks — they’re built to match the films.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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