variants
also pummelling
as in thrashing
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variants
also pummelling
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pummeling
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The results appeared to justify growing investor confidence in LVMH, which saw its share price take a pummeling this year.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Team Europe will look to continue its dominance over Team USA after the pummeling in Rome in 2023.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The sort that legend says compelled Pepper Rodgers in 1969 to flash Dan Devine a peace sign late in a 69-21 pummeling by Mizzou … and for Devine to flash half of one back.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Some moments he was transfixed by Sendak’s illustrations, particularly one of a rabbit, under one of Jack’s spells, pummeling the nameless dog; at others by the nature of Jack’s transformation.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Millions of Americans could face impacts from severe weather this weekend and into next week as a strong storm works its way across the nation after pummeling California with heavy snow and rain.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
But the trip is going to be an extreme test of fortitude, fate, and faith, evidenced by Lionsgate's preview revealing obstacles including a hellish radiation storm, monster waves, meteors pummeling the Earth, and lethal bands of desperate survivors prowling the continent.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Momoa, who leads Kamehameha’s forces from the front, had to balance spearing and pummelling his way through Keōua’s army on camera with coordinating other units following other characters through the bloody scrum.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025
According to new data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), shocks caused by tariffs are pummeling Southeast and East Asia with ferocity, rivaled narrowly in impact by South Asia and the Pacific.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Propelled by one of guitarist Wes Borland’s hypnotic riffs, crunching beats, old-school record scratches and the group’s signature shouty choruses, the whole thing comes crashing to a close with a pummeling final chorus that finally nods to the country star in the title.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Yet to concede in their two games, Ronald Koeman’s Oranje are high on confidence after beating current group leaders Finland (played four) and pummeling Malta 8-0 in June.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Betts, though, quickly caught himself, mindful of the pummeling that had just taken place.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The results appeared to justify growing investor confidence in LVMH, which saw its share price take a pummeling this year.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Team Europe will look to continue its dominance over Team USA after the pummeling in Rome in 2023.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The sort that legend says compelled Pepper Rodgers in 1969 to flash Dan Devine a peace sign late in a 69-21 pummeling by Mizzou … and for Devine to flash half of one back.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Attack People with narcissism often transition into the attack phase next, pummeling the character and credibility of their loved one.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Some moments he was transfixed by Sendak’s illustrations, particularly one of a rabbit, under one of Jack’s spells, pummeling the nameless dog; at others by the nature of Jack’s transformation.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Millions of Americans could face impacts from severe weather this weekend and into next week as a strong storm works its way across the nation after pummeling California with heavy snow and rain.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
But the trip is going to be an extreme test of fortitude, fate, and faith, evidenced by Lionsgate's preview revealing obstacles including a hellish radiation storm, monster waves, meteors pummeling the Earth, and lethal bands of desperate survivors prowling the continent.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Momoa, who leads Kamehameha’s forces from the front, had to balance spearing and pummelling his way through Keōua’s army on camera with coordinating other units following other characters through the bloody scrum.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025
According to new data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), shocks caused by tariffs are pummeling Southeast and East Asia with ferocity, rivaled narrowly in impact by South Asia and the Pacific.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Propelled by one of guitarist Wes Borland’s hypnotic riffs, crunching beats, old-school record scratches and the group’s signature shouty choruses, the whole thing comes crashing to a close with a pummeling final chorus that finally nods to the country star in the title.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Yet to concede in their two games, Ronald Koeman’s Oranje are high on confidence after beating current group leaders Finland (played four) and pummeling Malta 8-0 in June.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeling
Noun
-
Several Dolphins achieved neat feats during the uplifting 34-10 thrashing of the Falcons in Atlanta.—
Barry Jackson
Updated October 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
-
This home thrashing also came just a day after LSU’s board voted to increase ticket prices for 2026.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Afterwards, Munchak says agents pulled their car in front of hers and surrounded the vehicle, pounding on it, telling her to open the doors and pointing a gun at her.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The metal giants are currently pounding their way through a long-overdue tour of Australia and New Zealand, a six-date coast-to-coast swing for the M72 World Tour.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The sound of hammering came from outside in the driveway, where some men were building a coffin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The 4-0 hammering in France has seen Ajax’s chance of elimination before the knockout stage rise to 85 per cent.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The sketch concluded with the librarian licking Moynihan's face with a forked tongue and then unbuttoning her blouse — causing all of the boys' heads to explode.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Others, like Ava Louise, do it through viral media stunts, like flashing the New York-Dublin Portal or licking a toilet seat in the beginning of the Covid pandemic.—
Taylor Lorenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In 2025, for all the play’s bickering and bashing, the eventual trajectory of Art feels almost saccharine.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This and that ▪ Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II was contrite about lashing out at running backs coach Eric Studesville in a heated exchange after Gordon was called for a tripping penalty against Baltimore.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
LogoPowered byScale logo Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, is slowly cutting through the Caribbean, soaking and lashing those in its path with torrential rain and catastrophic winds.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That Week 1 battering could play a central role in the CFP selection committee’s cross-conference evaluation of contenders — even if the Broncos don’t win the Mountain West.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The strong winds are indirectly caused by an atmospheric river battering California, as the storm is providing moisture to a weather system that is causing the winds in Nevada, NWS meteorologist Jon Bongard told Newsweek.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
No doubt there were many reasons the Chiefs woke up the echoes and restored a certain sense of order on Sunday with a 37-20 clobbering of visiting Baltimore, a presumptive rival for the AFC berth in the Super Bowl.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Every aspect of that towel was on display in a Big Ten showdown-turned-clobbering.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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