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
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Recent Examples of pummeling
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
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
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
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
Noun
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
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
-
The Cardinals had opened the season with a 31-0 loss at Purdue and a 42-3 thumping at Auburn.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Latin trap, which draws both its name and its sound from the thumping-and-ticking hip-hop of the American South, is slower and woozier, and in some ways more flexible.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Europe romped to a nine-point thrashing.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
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The low-key setting — a 6-0 thrashing of third tier opposition in the Carabao Cup third round — does not diminish the quality of strikes that Gomez’s former Inter Miami team-mate Lionel Messi would have been proud of.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If the full release can continue to generate oddly pulse-pounding moments like the near-death rooftop fight with an evil-eyed Pikachu, then Z-A might be worth an extended stay in Lumiose.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
-
My heart was pounding, like pounding.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That support is under pressure amid Israeli forces’ continued hammering of Gaza, causing starvation and dislocation for its surviving residents.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Leeds’ 1-0 win against Everton at Elland Road was followed by a 5-0 hammering at the Emirates and a stalemate against Newcastle.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During a bedtime conversation between Kaz and Caesar, for example, their dog keeps licking Caesar as Kaz tries to have a serious talk with him.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Astro came up to Mars and immediately sniffed him and then started licking him.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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Video from Camiguin Island, posted by the Philippines Department of the Interior and Local Government, showed fierce winds and ocean water whipping past houses onto a residential street.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
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After whipping Minnesota 22-6 on the road in Week 2, the Falcons were shut out by the Panthers in Week 3.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Brown climbed the ladder to haul in a pass over the middle from Madsen, beating his defender in the air acrobatically before smashing into the end zone turf for the catch and a 33-14 lead.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Pour the remaining milk mixture into egg mixture, beating to combine.—
Emily Teel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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