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
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
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
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 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
Noun
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
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
-
Paredones laid down thumping cumbia bass lines as Adolfo Mercado, often compared to Animal of The Muppets, wailed on the drums.—
Ivan Kashinsky,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The strange clip, released on the actor’s social media pages, is set to a thumping electronic score that samples Jason Mewes’ monologue from the 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the Bears rebounded with encouraging victories — a home thrashing of the Cowboys followed by a character-building come-from-behind magic act in Las Vegas.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Led by blaring ‘80s synthesizers and a pounding beat, the song features a distorted lead vocal from D’Angelo, who accompanies himself on multitracked backing vocals with the occasional soul shriek thrown in for good measure.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
-
John Candy famously took a racquetball to the skull in a key comedic scene from the 1984 film Splash — and fellow actor Tom Hanks recalls that his late costar's head might've been pounding already after Candy spent the night before drinking with Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There and at Jebel Misma, the team found stone-hammering tools left behind by the artists in layers of sediment dating back 12,000 years.—
Martin J. Kernan,
Scientific American,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The sugars in the glaze coat the chicken and carrots to create a finger-licking delicious dinner.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
-
And the Trojans’ defense that came in licking its wounds after allowing 502 yards in a last-gasp loss at Illinois two weeks ago?—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
12 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
-
Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Sedaris were sitting front row, with Parker whipping out her phone to film Reese.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
While summer may be over, nothing is stopping you from whipping this thing out for the holiday season.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Oh, 6-0 Georgia Tech’s right on the cusp of the bracket (after beating 2-5 Virginia Tech 35-20)?—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
With a make on the second, Duke won by five, miraculously beating the spread of 4 1/2, per Andrew’s telling.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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