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
During the fight, Collins told detectives, his cousin punched his sister and threatened to kill them. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026 During this same incident, Sandoval further alleged that Robinson punched him in the face, injuring his neck and ear. Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
Don’t leave the neighborhood without checking out Black & Gold, which offers a one-two design punch. Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2026 That texture was complemented by balanced sweetness and acidity and a zingy punch of garlic. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
  • In the next at bat, third baseman Brooks Lee slapped a two-RBI single with a ball placed between Caglianone and Michael Massey to give the Twins a 4-3 lead, their first of the game.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
  • They’re just thrilled by making the different movements for the different animals and trying to slap the table the quickest.
    Marah Eakin, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Only now is the topic being revisited, especially as the energy sector has perfected drilling much longer wells, including horizontally, to unlock more crude oil from geological rock formations.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The notion of luck is seemingly an ill fit for his new home state, where fortunes were made by guessing where to drill a hole into the ground in search of oil.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 9 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
  • Exports flowing from Saudi ports have blunted some of the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
    Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This data empowers stronger salary negotiations, enabling employees to support their requests with market evidence and demonstrated impact.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In the same way that London is more than just red buses, black cabs, and a rather large parliamentary clock, England is more than just the vigor of London.
    Katie Silcox, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Hao-Yu Lee, a Harris trade acquisition for Michael Lorenzen at the 2023 deadline, has helped inject life and vigor into the lineup.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The injury to Tunsil, 32, is a major blow to the Commanders’ hopes of a bounce-back season in 2026.
    Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Rodri's move to Barcelona is a significant blow for Madrid, who have struggled for midfield control since Kroos and Modric departed, and have been trophyless while Barcelona dominated domestically.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 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
  • But a 92 mph sinker got Lewis to smack a ball straight to Isaac Collins in left field to end the inning.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Wood stayed in the game for a lengthy bottom of the seventh, during which Phillies outfielder Derek Hill smacked a go-ahead grand slam to stir the crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
    Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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