variants
also pummelling
as in thrashing
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variants
also pummelling
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pummeling
Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
His bandmates, naturally, summon apocalyptic cacophonies of gut-rattling guitar-riff fuselage and pummeling drumming.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
The electric vehicle industry has taken a pummeling this year.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
In its long history as the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, the town has faced fires, maritime tragedies, and wild winter storms with lashing winds and pummeling rain.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
How to Watch Georgia Tech at Boston College Boston College’s woes continued last week as the Eagles took their ninth straight loss and fell to 0-6 in ACC play with a 45-13 pummeling at home from SMU.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Betts, though, quickly caught himself, mindful of the pummeling that had just taken place.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
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
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
New England’s notoriously harsh weather once again revealed itself with a vengeance this past weekend, bringing extremely frigid temperatures to Connecticut and pummeling the state with nearly two feet of snow.
—Steve Sullivan, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
Three days after pummeling UCLA, 48-29, on the glass (including 20-5 on offensive boards), the Terps were on the receiving end of a clobbering as USC dominated, 35-24.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2026
In a matter of eight days, the Hornets (14-26) have gone from pummeling the defending champion in Oklahoma City to losing consecutive games at home to Toronto and Indiana in gut-wrenching fashion to recording the largest margin of victory on the road in franchise history by pounding Utah.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
But the Bills have won three straight road games, pummeling the Pittsburgh Steelers, storming back to beat the New England Patriots and holding on against the Cleveland Browns.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Viral Cincinnati beatdown sparks racial tensions A violent beating in downtown Cincinnati rocked the nation after video of a group of Black suspects were filmed pummeling at least two White victims in images that quickly went viral online.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
However, their struggles early in the season contributed to Miami’s 1-6 start because every NFL team was pummeling the Dolphins on the ground in the first half of the year.
—Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Rain is still pummeling the Pacific Northwest.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Noun
The signature chi massage is based around meridian lines—a questionnaire determines which is most suitable for you—and the company’s bespoke oils are used in the massage, which is good, although maybe not one for those requiring serious pummelling.
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
His bandmates, naturally, summon apocalyptic cacophonies of gut-rattling guitar-riff fuselage and pummeling drumming.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
The electric vehicle industry has taken a pummeling this year.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
In its long history as the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, the town has faced fires, maritime tragedies, and wild winter storms with lashing winds and pummeling rain.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
How to Watch Georgia Tech at Boston College Boston College’s woes continued last week as the Eagles took their ninth straight loss and fell to 0-6 in ACC play with a 45-13 pummeling at home from SMU.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Betts, though, quickly caught himself, mindful of the pummeling that had just taken place.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
New England’s notoriously harsh weather once again revealed itself with a vengeance this past weekend, bringing extremely frigid temperatures to Connecticut and pummeling the state with nearly two feet of snow.
—Steve Sullivan, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
Three days after pummeling UCLA, 48-29, on the glass (including 20-5 on offensive boards), the Terps were on the receiving end of a clobbering as USC dominated, 35-24.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2026
In a matter of eight days, the Hornets (14-26) have gone from pummeling the defending champion in Oklahoma City to losing consecutive games at home to Toronto and Indiana in gut-wrenching fashion to recording the largest margin of victory on the road in franchise history by pounding Utah.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
But the Bills have won three straight road games, pummeling the Pittsburgh Steelers, storming back to beat the New England Patriots and holding on against the Cleveland Browns.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Viral Cincinnati beatdown sparks racial tensions A violent beating in downtown Cincinnati rocked the nation after video of a group of Black suspects were filmed pummeling at least two White victims in images that quickly went viral online.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
However, their struggles early in the season contributed to Miami’s 1-6 start because every NFL team was pummeling the Dolphins on the ground in the first half of the year.
—Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Rain is still pummeling the Pacific Northwest.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeling
Noun
-
And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Last season’s 56-7 thrashing of former college football power Nebraska.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rain pounding against windows and ocean waves crashing into the foundations of shoreline homes with wind gusts of over 60 mph — what may sound like a stormy September day in Florida took place in Milford during Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020.—
Maleena Muzio,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Russia has been pounding Ukraine's critical infrastructure, hoping to wear down public resistance to the war while leaving many around the country having to endure the dead of winter without heat.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Eric Freeny blocked Smith, Bilodeau grabbed the loose ball and threw an outlet to Dailey for a hammering dunk.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraine’s energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But Beshear hasn’t turned Trump-bashing into a 24/7 vocation, or a weight-lifting contest where the winner is the critic wielding the heaviest bludgeon.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Powell, known for a cool head and a quiet demeanor, has consistently avoided direct confrontations with Trump, even as the president's personal displeasure with the Fed chair escalated from behind the scenes pressure to public bashing.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Vance often has served as an attack dog for the administration, including lashing out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oval Office visit.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Chappell took to social media to vent some of her ire, lashing out at the Biden administration.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To start the bludgeoning, Aledo quickly established the run game in its opening drive with runs of 30 and 44 yards — that set up a 9 yard rushing TD from quarterback Lincoln Tubbs.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Dec. 2025
-
Bates announced on Wednesday that Lively was sentenced after he was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal bludgeoning and stabbing of 68-year-old John Hall III in Northwest Baltimore City.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Given how DeSantis and his allies are battering local governments for alleged waste, fraud and abuse, their silence in this case is conspicuous.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of battering and frying the rellenos, discover similar flavors by layering a flour and egg batter right on top of the shrimp mixture and baking.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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