1
as in bobbing
to make short up-and-down movements
the thighs of the bicyclists were pumping furiously as they neared the finish line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in interrogating
to put a series of questions to
prying neighbors pumped the guileless child for information about the family's new pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in draining
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
pumped water from the well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pumping
On March 13, Wright issued an order directing Sable to restart pumping and moving oil from the system.
—
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
In Tokyo, regulations imposed limits on pumping.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Saudi Arabia had begun pumping large volumes of oil west toward the Red Sea to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
The movie features an iconic ensemble cast, from Patricia Arquette‘s Irish building superintendent Lily to wealthy tenants Kevin (Tom Felton) and Sharon (Heather Graham), each bringing a distinct unhinged performance to the onscreen cult in this high-octane, adrenaline-pumping flick.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Gorge State Park is rife with heart-pumping activities, including hiking along its two-mile gorge.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The Kona low has been pumping warm, moist air into the Pacific Northwest, feeding a massive ridge of high pressure that is now driving temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above normal across California, Nevada and Arizona.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2026
Moreover, since these frogs can hunker in the mud for days, conservationists resort to pumping water out and allowing the bed to completely dry out, to ferret out every last straggler.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
For 47 years, it's been pumping terror, death, destruction, wars, persecution, taking away women's rights.
—Adam Duxter, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
In Tokyo, regulations imposed limits on pumping.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Saudi Arabia had begun pumping large volumes of oil west toward the Red Sea to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
The movie features an iconic ensemble cast, from Patricia Arquette‘s Irish building superintendent Lily to wealthy tenants Kevin (Tom Felton) and Sharon (Heather Graham), each bringing a distinct unhinged performance to the onscreen cult in this high-octane, adrenaline-pumping flick.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Gorge State Park is rife with heart-pumping activities, including hiking along its two-mile gorge.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The Kona low has been pumping warm, moist air into the Pacific Northwest, feeding a massive ridge of high pressure that is now driving temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above normal across California, Nevada and Arizona.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2026
Moreover, since these frogs can hunker in the mud for days, conservationists resort to pumping water out and allowing the bed to completely dry out, to ferret out every last straggler.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
For 47 years, it's been pumping terror, death, destruction, wars, persecution, taking away women's rights.
—Adam Duxter, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping
Verb
-
Rare was the creative artist, post-1970, who wasn’t churned up by bobbing in the Beatles’ wake.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Little wonder, then, that the 2026 Padres are viewed as a sea-level performer, bobbing in San Diego Bay.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Grossman succeeds in interrogating the very gaze his film is built upon, yet never fully escapes it, leaving the documentary caught between critique and complicity.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Such works treat their characters as political beings with complex lives worth interrogating.—
Jake Pitre,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last weekend, countless spring breakers arrived to partake in the unsanctioned event, draining resources and putting strain on local authorities attempting to maintain order.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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One out of the two washing sinks were draining slowly in the women’s restroom.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Working with 1 cutlet at a time, dredge in flour mixture, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip back into bowl.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Doncic yelled at the crowd and ran down court shaking his head.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our methodology To determine the best free tax software, CNBC Select analyzed more than a dozen top tax-prep companies with free tiers, examining ease of use, live support and other features.—
Brian Sloan,Dan Avery,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
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That advice comes from a new review examining the links between obesity and cancer.—
Roni Robbins,
AJC.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But sucking at vanilla here is like taking popcorn to a cinema without a projectionist or waiting for a lover who has long since left you.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Mar. 2026
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The Gators can have that effect, simply sucking the will out of opponents with two, three, four shots in a possession, but the making of this machine is significantly more complex.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
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The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Investors have been questioning whether artificial intelligence competitors and automation tools could erode demand for traditional software licenses and workflows.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
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But when John's cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Fran's complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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