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
Two people who saw the surveillance video recognized the man who punched Wilson as Harris, and one knew him from previous assaults in the area, the complaint said. Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2026 By Wednesday, Carter said, fallen branches had punched several holes through roofs across the campus, including the administration building. Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
Storms packed a punch on Tuesday after an EF-1 tornado was confirmed to have touched down near Oak Forest and Flossmoor. Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 On the other hand, billionaires were already paying so little in California income tax that their departure may not pack as much of a punch as anticipated. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
  • In response, Smith, 57, approached Rock on the Oscars stage and slapped him across the face.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Section 301 has also opened the door to new country-specific tariffs targeted at Brazil, at 25%, while Section 338 was cited to slap an extra 50% import tax on certain Canadian goods.
    Kent Jones, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The two-time All-Star shot 4 of 6 from the field and drilled two 3s.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Even then, the hope was to drill this winter, and not more than a year from now.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The project, which is expected to take two years, has brought construction noise, dust and the loss of nearby parking spaces, all of which merchants say have driven customers away.
    Maddie White, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This heat drives the park’s geysers and hot springs while producing frequent earthquakes and gradual changes in the ground.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Such filings typically chronicle the impact of a defendant's crimes, as well as his history, upbringing and other aggravating or mitigating factors.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The argument that family foundations concentrate influence and defer impact for decades while assets compound is fair, and worth taking seriously.
    Vandana Arcot, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Lastly, to dull the war-mongering vigor of the Rivermen, Ormund installs small, scared little boys, ripped from their homes, all along the chemin de ronde — a baby human shield for Ser Daeron the Daring’s great army.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • August 8 is 8/8; double eights are an extreme force of nature that adds vigor to our intentions.
    Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That would be a heavy blow for an economy growing at less than 1% a year.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Pats were dealt a tough blow Thursday when Brown suffered an injury that forced his removal from the game.
    Chad Graff, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Clenney claimed to have thrown the knife at Obumseli from a distance of over 10 feet, but prosecutors say an autopsy revealed a puncture wound so deep it could only have been caused by an up-close and personal stabbing.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, Pilonidal disease usually occurs when hair punctures and embeds itself in a pocket of skin near the tailbone.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The storm caught the state off guard, having made a sudden shift to the east and smack into the core of the state after most forecasters had projected it to make landfall much farther to the north.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor Trammell then smacked his first triple of the year off the brick wall in right field before Allen sent him home with the go-ahead run off Keaton Winn (2-3).
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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