variants
also pummelled
as in pounded
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pummeled
Attorneys for the officers and probation union officials said the prosecutions were an overreaction to a video — first published by The Times in 2024 — that showed officers standing by as several youths pummeled a fellow inmate at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.
—
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
While parts of Maui are still rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires, the state was pummeled by a pair of back-to-back storms last month, causing widespread damage across the islands, including parts of Maui, O’ahu, Molokaʻi, and the Big Island.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
Hurley was burned out after his Huskies failed to play to the program’s standard, and after he was pummeled nationally during the 2024-25 season for his combustible sideline disposition, in Maui and beyond.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Philosophy, too, is pummelled into profitability.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Two-year gilts – the part of the market most sensitive to interest-rate moves – were also pummelled.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 28 Mar. 2026
Thousands of Shahed drones have pummeled the Persian Gulf this month, hitting hotels, airports, seaports, desalination plants, and energy infrastructure, and deepening the worst oil-price shock in modern history.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Judge pummeled a 93 mph fastball on the inner part of the zone 404 feet just fair of the left-field foul pole for a two-run homer.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in 25 minutes and the Los Angeles Clippers pummeled the Milwaukee Bucks 129-96 on Monday night.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
While parts of Maui are still rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires, the state was pummeled by a pair of back-to-back storms last month, causing widespread damage across the islands, including parts of Maui, O’ahu, Molokaʻi, and the Big Island.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
Hurley was burned out after his Huskies failed to play to the program’s standard, and after he was pummeled nationally during the 2024-25 season for his combustible sideline disposition, in Maui and beyond.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Philosophy, too, is pummelled into profitability.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Two-year gilts – the part of the market most sensitive to interest-rate moves – were also pummelled.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 28 Mar. 2026
Thousands of Shahed drones have pummeled the Persian Gulf this month, hitting hotels, airports, seaports, desalination plants, and energy infrastructure, and deepening the worst oil-price shock in modern history.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Judge pummeled a 93 mph fastball on the inner part of the zone 404 feet just fair of the left-field foul pole for a two-run homer.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in 25 minutes and the Los Angeles Clippers pummeled the Milwaukee Bucks 129-96 on Monday night.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeled
Verb
-
When the ball missed, the mascots howled with laughter; one of them, a big yellow mountain lion, pounded the ground.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The villagers huddled in their church for protection as Israeli warplanes pounded large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon while Israeli troops stepped up a ground invasion and Hezbollah kept firing rockets at Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rumor has it the fashion crowd licked the shelves clean in Paris as soon as the first designs hit stores.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
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Of course, the flue was closed, so the fire licked up the walls, left a smell like the fall, like ancient smokehouses and dung.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Suarez lashed seven shots towards goal on his debut against Casa Pia, going closest after a stomping run in-behind the defence and a sharp shot into the side netting.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Spencer Pratt lashed out at the Los Angeles Times and a rival mayoral candidate, accusing a reporter of harassing his family and trying to expose where his children live as his campaign gains traction in the polls.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the Palm Springs North community on Tuesday, the tornado whipped across a lake and a couple of residential blocks, according to weather service meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
As the Orion capsule whipped around the back side of the moon Monday, Earth was out of sight — and the crew was unable to communicate to Mission Control for about 40 minutes due to the moon blocking a connection to the Deep Space Network.—
Brendan Byrne,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Over the next hour, as the waves battered the three of them in total darkness, Ponson fought to keep everyone alive — holding Mac upright for several minutes, then giving Booga a rest.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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From there, the Royals battered the Milwaukee bullpen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Dallas pelted Gustavsson during the man advantage, but Minnesota got a high-danger scoring chance as well, only to see Oettinger stuff Nico Sturm on a shorthanded rush to the net.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
21 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
-
While Hungary is a member of the European Union, Orbán has repeatedly attacked the it and clashed with his European counterparts on several issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine, using his veto power to try to block the EU's efforts to support Ukraine.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Milton residents are voicing safety concerns in the Blue Hills Reservation after Massachusetts State Police say a man stabbed a dog that allegedly attacked him.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Viktoria Koskenoja, an emergency medicine physician, knocked on the door then greeted her warmly, pulling up a stool across from her.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
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With Carolina winning the puck battles down low, Jordan Martinook knocked the puck off Geekie’s stick, fed William Carrier for a goal on which the B’s needed a stop.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pummeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeled. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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