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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
  • Rank buildings by attrition instead of averaging across the district because the average is exactly what hides a building in crisis.
    — Kellie Lauth, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Along the way, Bryan gets bit by a zombie but hides the wound, which slowly infects him.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 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
  • Castro whips her head around and follows him, punching him in the back.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Green whips out his phone with the fluid motion of a digital native and snaps a photo.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of whips
Verb
  • The store that matches its habits to its real customers beats the one copying whatever the chains are doing this quarter.
    — Elie Y. Katz, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Nothing beats the experience of paging through a beautiful book.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of beats
Verb
  • 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
  • Nothing slaps like the original, but the upcoming reboot looks kinda cool.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of slaps
Verb
  • After making the deal with CBS, a local ranger knocks on Kaczynski’s cabin door and claims that local copper miners are interested in inspecting the property lines around the land.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Eagles defender Brandon Graham fends off a Patriots offensive lineman, reaches his left hand out, and knocks the ball loose from Brady’s grip.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of knocks
Verb
  • At a pivotal moment in the film, Ledger’s Joker positions a pencil on a table, and later slams a man’s head into it.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Hawaii is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell slams the islands with life-threatening rain.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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