variants
also pummelling
as in thumping
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
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variants
also pummelling
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pummeling
Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Jack Bantock, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
The Dodgers showed their dominance over Colorado on Tuesday by pummeling Austin Gomber.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
On the negative side, the Chiefs have benefited from open-air conditions, memorably pummeling the Miami Dolphins, 26-7, in fourth-coldest game in NFL history, as temperatures reached minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of minus-27.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Noun
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
The Dodgers showed their dominance over Colorado on Tuesday by pummeling Austin Gomber.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
On the negative side, the Chiefs have benefited from open-air conditions, memorably pummeling the Miami Dolphins, 26-7, in fourth-coldest game in NFL history, as temperatures reached minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of minus-27.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeling
Verb
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The Boombox 4 is pure JBL, right down to the foot-thumping bass and the innovative tech.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Somewhere off the coast of Nantucket, the bass on the pool deck was thumping.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Luka was placed on heavy sedation, but even that wasn't enough to stop his heavy thrashing.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Barcelona’s thrashing of Alhama was the match with the most interventions (12) and the only game in which there were no challenges was Athletic Club’s goalless draw with CD Tenerife.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One end of the spectrum are stress fracture, which are very small, often described as hairline fractures that result from repetitive force and pounding to the bone over time.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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It’s typed with such pounding despair and fury that certain letters of the alphabet actually tear through the paper (this was an old, manual typewriter).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Excluding the pandemic, that’s the slowest average monthly gain for that January to August time frame since 2010, when the United States was still licking its wounds from the Great Recession.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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Today, Alabama is licking its wounds.—
Don Yaeger,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Milwaukee mother who claimed her stepfather threw her baby from a balcony has now been charged with child abuse herself, accused of whipping her younger brothers.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Olbinski ran to his car, while others hunkered down and braved the brutal winds and whipping sand.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Jays spent much of their 2025 rise beating up on the Yankees, and three September games at Yankee Stadium presented a chance for one last jab.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Needless to say, beating the Jets was a good feeling for the 41-year-old signal caller.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The arrest came nearly eight years after the FBI raided Sovereign and related properties with armed agents and a battering ram.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
22 Aug. 2025
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The soundtrack to the teams’ handshakes took an absolute battering from the supporters inside the ground.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Gallagher brothers have spent the better part of the past 15 years pelting each other with insults.—
Alex Edelman,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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The inappropriate item missed the court, instead pelting the child in the leg, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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