pummeled

verb

variants also pummelled
past tense of pummel
as in pounded
to strike repeatedly pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 pummeled In the top of the third inning, Lombard, in his second at-bat, pummeled a breaking ball into the visitors' bullpen for a solo home run for the Jupiter Hammerheads. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Several other towns experienced flash flooding as rain pummeled the northern part of the state. — Christina Fan, CBS News, 29 July 2026 Lockhart had pummeled her face beyond recognition — requiring the use of dental records to confirm her identity. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 24 July 2026 But the downpour that suddenly hit the area last Friday afternoon was unusually strong and caused multiple mudslides that pummeled homes and businesses. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 Winter Storm Uri, the multiday freeze that slammed Texas in February 2021 and pummeled the state’s power grid, has been on Kenneth Kovar’s mind ever since. — Alexa St. John, Fortune, 23 July 2026 Kahan’s July 18 concert unfortunately coincided with a wave of severe thunderstorms that pummeled New York City throughout the majority of the morning and evening. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026 Following days of smoky skies and soaring temperatures, the Big Apple and surrounding areas were pummeled Saturday with heavy thunderstorms, downpours and flash floods. — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 As rain pummeled the lawn in front of the Hatch Shell in Boston, thousands crammed underneath a nearby tunnel to stay dry. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeled
  1. pounded
  2. licked
  3. lashed
  4. whipped
  5. battered
  6. pelted
  7. attacked
  8. knocked
Verb
  • Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Chivilli got especially pounded, surrendering three home runs.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounded
Verb
  • Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Grande licked one of them, and fans were immediately outraged by the moment.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of licked
Verb
  • Earlier this month, Kennedy lashed out during an interview on CNN over vaccine and public health policies.
    — Daniel Payne, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The singer also lashed out at her parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, on social media.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • Arcila scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 50th, then whipped the go-ahead goal past Óscar García for his fourth goal of the tournament.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The bullet apparently whipped across the cab and struck Salgado in the stomach.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • There were delays, including some caused by three hurricanes — the Charley, Frances and Jeanne era — that battered the area.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Both came alive right along the Gulf Coast and were battered by wind shear every step of the way, which prevented them from strengthening significantly and limited their impacts overall.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of battered
Verb
  • In Hackensack, heavy rain pelted cars traveling along River Road, which almost looked like a ride at a water park.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The episode feinted toward genuine rapprochement before yanking the rug out, leaving the Gang pelted with an industrial-grade indoor blizzard and then happily chucking rocks at passing trains, as was Mac and Charlie’s childhood tradition.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
Definition of pelted
Verb
  • Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel attacked the country in February.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Yemen’s Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi shipping last month, attacked Saudi oil tankers this week, and are threatening to impose tolls, adding urgency to securing the waterway.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacked
Verb
  • Ventura County Animal Services said Bruce, who was muzzled at the time, knocked the man to the ground.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Moments later, Sikorski walked past the teen girl who was recording the incident and her phone was knocked to the ground.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocked

Browse Nearby Words

pummel
pummeled
pummeling
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Cite this Entry

“Pummeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeled. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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