pummeling 1 of 2

variants also pummelling

pummeling

2 of 2

verb

variants also pummelling
present participle of pummel

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 pummeling
Noun
Men In Blazers Reigning European champions Spain finally looked like tournament favorites, with teenage star Lamine Yamal leading it to a 4-0 pummeling of Saudi Arabia. David Hickey, NBC news, 22 June 2026 As violent as these bouts get, fighters agree to honor the rules, even mid-pummeling. Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 This spiritual, emotional, and physical reset is a million miles away from the hormone pummeling of current weight-loss drugs, and the aughts’ detox ethos. Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 May 2026 The increasingly gruesome pummelling continues, cross-cutting with Cassie’s discussion with Naz (Jack Topalian), calmly eating pie on the couch, about what this means to her, and how her wedding was supposed to be the best day of her life. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026 Of course, Flextail didn't curl up, back into a corner and submit to a pummeling, counterpunching with its own tiny 1-oz inflator just a couple months later. New Atlas, 20 Apr. 2026 On April 8, 2025, Wrobleski endured an eight-run pummeling by the Washington Nationals and was immediately sent down to triple-A Oklahoma City. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026 In early February, at an Airbnb Peters was renting near Orlando, Peters’ girlfriend, Violet Lentz, got into a shouting, shoving and pummeling match with another woman, while Peters posted the conflict to social media, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026 Stout, bluesy guitar and a pummeling rhythm lead to McBryde turning in a ferocious, fearless vocal, singing about a litany of vices and urges that stay steeped her bloodline. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
Behested payments make an excellent target for pummeling the presidential contender. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026 Vargas was among a group of three men being sought for pummeling the cab parked at 36th St and Seventh Ave. Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026 All of it will be accentuated by swirling spotlights, and perhaps even sweat and blood pouring off the fighters pummeling each other. ABC News, 11 June 2026 With a pummelling rhythm and howling guitar, the new song from fata morgana makes a desperate race against the doom loop. Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026 Protests outside the gates have shown activists pummeling cars, impeding the exits and in some cases getting hurled out of the way after collisions with vehicles attempting to speed away from the violent activists. Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026 In keeping with the show’s defiance of mortality, Lee and Lifeson seemed to have almost aged in reverse since 2015, with Lifeson notably trimmer and musically nimble, and Lee pummeling his bass while skipping around the stage faster than any 72-year-old should be able to manage. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026 In his first at-bat Tuesday night, Betts fell behind 0-2 to Rockies starter Kyle Freeland before pummeling a heater in the zone to center field for a two-run blast. Katie Woo, New York Times, 27 May 2026 Surging food costs and fuel prices are pummeling Maine's struggling groundfishing industry. Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeling
Noun
  • Canada’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar in its second FIFA World Cup match would’ve been perfect on Thursday afternoon if not for an injury to Ismaël Koné that can only be described as horrifying.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • Despite Norway being eliminated after the group stage, Haaland was the tournament’s top scorer – with all nine of his goals coming in a 12-0 thrashing of Honduras.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Both Ghana and England will walk away with a point after Ghana managed to hold off England in a heart-pounding final few minutes of stoppage time.
    Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Each time, my heart would start pounding.
    Alex Cuadros, ProPublica, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • There is no hammering out a return with another team because the parameters and compensation are outlined based on the average annual value offered.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • After milking, the cows would return themselves to their fresh pasture and spend the day grazing, snoozing, licking one another, and cooling off in the shade of pine trees.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • Bring along a friend who wouldn’t be able to indulge in these kinds of finger-licking treats otherwise.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Whether the bashing has any immediate political implications for the lawmakers remains to be seen.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 June 2026
  • But more recently, Japan-bashing has become the core of a strident Chinese nationalism, with disastrous consequences.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster is apologizing after lashing out at a critic.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
  • Hurricane Fiona pummeled Puerto Rico in September 2022 as a Category 1 storm, lashing once more a power grid that hadn’t been rebuilt from Hurricane Maria.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Norma Jane Lumpkin, whose long hair hung past her waist, was four decades into a life sentence for her role in the 1981 bludgeoning death of her husband.
    Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
  • This game was expected to be a taut preview of the gold-medal game but has turned into a bludgeoning.
    Sean Nevin, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Severe storms, flash flooding and extreme heat are battering parts of the Plains, Midwest and the South this weekend, threatening to disrupt World Cup fans, athletes and holiday travelers alike.
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 20 June 2026
  • The two were battering Sri Lanka together until Kerr was caught on the boundary.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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