punch 1 of 3

Definition of punchnext

punch

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect the real punch of the speech came in its closing lines

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument old computers used to get information by reading the punches on a series of cards

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 punch
Verb
Six minutes into the second half, Maradona challenged England goalkeeper Peter Shilton for a loose ball and punched it into the net with his left hand. Larry Holder, New York Times, 15 July 2026 Then other students took turns slapping, pinching and punching the boy. Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 15 July 2026
Noun
This thick, brownish concoction, a kind of hot dog chili, is sloppy, packs some heat, and the fiery punch to the taste buds can be a surprise to the uninitiated. Usa Today Network, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Some of the first reports indicated that Adebayo threw a punch at Herro’s head before the two were separated, but some league sources have indicated that initial portrayals of the fight were overblown. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
  • But when their panel ended, the sports stars got into a heated exchange that ended with Brady slapping Paul in the face.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • Helmut Haller, West Germany vs England, 1966 Ray Wilson misjudges his headed clearance, Haller gathers it on the edge of the box and, just before Bobby Moore can close him down, slaps a right-footed shot into the far corner.
    Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Portugal’s second goal against Uzbekistan added even more variety to the mix, with Bruno Fernandes drilling a low effort towards three runners to the near post.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The Fever guard, who was walking the Octagon at UFC 329 less than 24 hours earlier, caught fire for 20 points while drilling six of her seven attempts from beyond the arc.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • The latest in Houston Salgado Araujo, 52, was driving to work with three other construction crew members when unmarked vehicles carrying federal agents began following his van, his family said.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • When Fumi takes a job at Rin’s clinic planning to expose its darker side, their standoff drives the series, with the story more interested in what pushes people toward transformation than in the surgeries themselves.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • His departure left a significant hole in Toronto's coaching staff, but his impact has continued to resonate with players who worked alongside him.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Even communities outside the immediate fire zone are feeling the impact.
    Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • His ideas were too radical even for many of our Founding Fathers, but the vigor of his writing and the clarity of his thinking were as a spark to gunpowder, and that was coming, too.
    Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
  • Dividing clumps every few years in early spring also maintains their vigor.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • Iran has been degraded by over 13,000 strikes, but has survived and reconstituted, rather than suffering a mortal blow.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The woman, 41-year-old Ja’Marlette Hardy, bit one of the officers during the July 1 encounter, which led to the officer delivering a blow to her head.
    Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • What the data punctures is the assumption that every task needs a frontier model, priced like one.
    Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • The right tool for the job Puncture tools are used for a variety of different jobs, and those jobs often dictate how the puncture tool evolves.
    Philip Anderson, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Heavy raindrops flew sideways, smacking against the hood of my rain jacket and creating a nearly deafening white noise.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman smacked a 463-foot whopper late last month.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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