1
as in to slap
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
after the man had punched the bartender for eighty-sixing him, bouncers stepped in and restrained him until the police could arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind
we're going to need a candidate with real punch if voters are ever going to get excited about this election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the poor palooka wasn't able to land a single punch on his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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.
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Recent Examples of punch
Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 15 June 2026
After the first driver returned to their car, the second driver gave chase and punched the first driver’s rear window, appearing to shatter it.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 June 2026
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
Carmelo Anthony’s scoring punch propelled the Knicks to a 54-win season, and the second round, in 2013.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
The video skips to a view showing one detention center officer next to Cole, holding him, as another deputy appears to punch Cole in the torso twice with his right fist, then changes position slightly and raises his left fist and appears to punch Cole in the torso 15 times with the left fist.
—Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 15 June 2026
After the first driver returned to their car, the second driver gave chase and punched the first driver’s rear window, appearing to shatter it.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 June 2026
Noun
And the one-two punch of these comparatively low-budget horror movies wiping the floor with their IP-heavy competition (The Mandalorian and Grogu, Masters of the Universe) over several early-summer weekends is the development that’s now sparked a million think pieces.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
Carmelo Anthony’s scoring punch propelled the Knicks to a 54-win season, and the second round, in 2013.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
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Fireworks lit up the night sky, people honked horns on jampacked streets and firefighters — from their trucks — slapped high-fives with delirious fans.—
Tim Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
Rhodes then slapped Zayn across the face.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The crisis was certainly good for oil companies, but the really booming corner of the business was trading, not drilling; European majors outshone their US competitors in first-quarter earnings because of their robust trading desks.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
18 June 2026
-
Crews there working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) are drilling hundreds of feet into the ground this month to locate the chemicals' source.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
In other words, the current combination of US political tensions and global conflicts are driving more US nationals to seek new options overseas.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
Naturally, Ohtani also singled, doubled, walked and drove in two runs in that game.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The 6-6 playmaker displayed his versatility on both ends, knocking down shots, creating for teammates and making an impact defensively against top competition from around the world.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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Community members also mourned Robert Dee’s loss, commemorating his impact.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Missing the gritty vigor of the first two films, Rocky III is more focused on violence than its predecessors and less interested in the witty character work that defined the original.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
-
These natural additives improve root systems and overall plant vigor, resulting in a fantastic profusion of blooms.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The rookie took a deep breath, settled into his stance and watched as Houston’s pitcher, Enyel De Los Santos, attempted to deliver the final blow.—
Latif Love
June 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
-
Star third baseman José Ramírez broke a bone in his left hand on a swing Saturday and will be sidelined for an indefinite period, a massive blow to the two-time defending AL Central champions.—
Tom Withers,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Solid-state batteries replace that liquid with solid materials, making cells more resistant to impact, puncture, and heat, dramatically reducing fire risk, and – most importantly – packing far more energy into the same weight.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 12,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
-
Stepping on one could result in a painful, venom-laden puncture wound.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
There's one man smack in the middle of it all.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
For the viewer, the satisfaction comes through vicarious tactile sensation—witnessing how the thatch gets smacked in by a flat, hammerlike device, or the way a tile slots perfectly into a shelf niche.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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