pummels

verb

present tense third-person singular of pummel
as in licks
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 pummels The global energy crisis triggered by two wars is set to worsen, as Ukraine pummels Russia’s refining industry and Iranian attacks continue on Middle Eastern oil production and refining. — Amy Myers Jaffe, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026 Unhealthy air quality, heat pummels New York City Skies in the city held a gloomy yellow tinge on Thursday morning as Canadian wildfires burned, causing unhealthy air quality in multiple regions of the United States. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Debris pummels Rodney Stover’s back, buckling him to his knees. — Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 Russia pummels Ukraine almost nightly with Shahed long-range attack drones — originally from Iran. — ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026 Ruben, a charming but terrifyingly angry juvenile delinquent, pummels timid, bookish Niall’s bullies. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Apr. 2026 Millions of people are facing a flood risk on Friday as an atmospheric river pummels Southern California with torrential rainfall. — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025 On a crowded street, Morejón strides up to the man and pummels him to the ground. — Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 Israel pummels Gaza by cosplaying at self defense. — James Folta september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummels
  1. licks
  2. hides
  3. pounds
  4. whips
  5. beats
  6. slaps
  7. knocks
  8. slams
Verb
  • That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of licks
Verb
  • While the fabric is satin, the black color hides stains effortlessly.
    — Anna Traver, InStyle, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The malicious software hides inside the phone's firmware, giving attackers powerful access that ordinary apps never receive.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of hides
Verb
  • Higher prices come as Ukraine pounds Russian refineries, forcing Moscow to ban diesel exports.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Part of the problem is that every summer, water pounds down on sidewalks in the Treasure Valley, drops rippling on glassy reflective surfaces, all because of sprinkler jets overshooting the grass and landing on pavement.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounds
Verb
  • Shutters bang, screen doors slam; the wind whips them all into a frenzy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Paddling along the shoreline of a small lake in the wilderness, as pine and spruce trees hover over the dark water’s edge and the wind whips waves against the canoe, a human knows her place.
    — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of whips
Verb
  • Instead of the cartoon alien who loves Oreos and beats up other alien bad guys, this run turns John Jones (FKA J'onn J'onnz) into an FBI agent who survives a suicide bombing and merges with an alien entity.
    — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Magic 9 also beats the 17 Pro Max in sharpness and color reproduction.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of beats
Verb
  • Someone slaps a strip of medical tape across their lips, promises you deeper sleep, fewer snores and a sharper jawline by morning, then cuts to a dreamy sunrise shot.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As the child puts his hands up, Bible says Campbell slaps them away, then drags him off the field.
    — Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of slaps
Verb
  • The move knocks the financier’s voting power in Liberty down from 48% to 3%, and no holder of Liberty Media common stock now holds more than 9% of voting power.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The loss knocks the Hornets, who have high expectations for this season, to a 3-6 start.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of knocks
Verb
  • One recent ad featuring an Epstein survivor, and targeted at Kansas Republican Roger Marshall, slams the incumbent senator’s September 2025 vote to block a procedural measure that would have released the Epstein files.
    — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 28 Oct. 2026
  • There’s seat-shaking violence in how the whale breaches the surface and slams its weight back down (the crafty sound design is by James Miller) and body horror in its claustrophobic, spongy inner chambers.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of slams

Browse Nearby Words

pummeling
pummels
pump
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Cite this Entry

“Pummels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummels. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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