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
An Arkansas State Police trooper was captured on dashcam footage yanking the passenger of a vehicle by his hair and punching him in the face after a high-speed chase that ended in the streets of Blytheville. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026 Twelve-micrometer polystyrene films got punched through while 130-micrometer films survived. Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
Victory just would not happen, as the conclusion came in the form of a gut punch of a 5-4 loss to the Rays in 11 innings. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 My favorite is the Strawberry Lemonade, which packs a decent punch despite its Level 1 rating. Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
  • At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • While outlining the details of Clancy's suicide attempt, Reddington slapped a quarter on the table and addressed the prosecutors in what appeared to be a direct challenge to the state.
    Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • On the next point, Eala drilled the ball into Jović’s forehand before wrong-footing her with a change of direction, then hit a 112 mph serve — a lightning strike compared to Eala’s usual serve — and Jović’s return sailed out.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Miles of steel cables were drilled at least a foot deep into the mountain rock, to ensure dozens of climbers are safe to traverse the mountainside simultaneously.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Haaland, along with Martin Odegaard, was the driving force behind Norway’s run to the quarter-finals.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • If Assembly Bill 1709 is approved, social media companies would need to provide platforms to children under 16 years old that do not include personalized feeds driven by algorithms, autoplaying videos and other features.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • As Roxana has pointed out all season about these influencer cameos, her visit makes zero impact.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Their arrival is also welcome for many locals, battered by the economic impact of the Iran war their American visitors were fighting.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Kittle, seven weeks since tearing his right Achilles in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia, was seen conditioning with vigor and impressive agility on a side field earlier this week.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The decline of the wholesale channel overall has been a blow to the industry’s morale and its balance sheets and forced many brands to put a greater emphasis on direct-to-consumer sales.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Strength among women helped Friday’s overall nonfarm payrolls figure blow past expectations for August.
    Alex Harring,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Most of the brand’s work business comes from safety footwear, protective to cap, puncture-resistant soles and other proprietary and branded technologies.
    Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Officers looked at the driver and saw six puncture wounds – four on his back, one between his eyes and one on the left side of his neck.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Brady House smacked a three-run homer, Jackson Kent pitched seven innings of one-run ball to earn his first major league win and the Washington Nationals beat the visiting Miami Marlins 9-2 on Friday.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The directorial debut of cinematographer Mi Steinbach, Strange Neighbors was shot over three years on Schwarztonnensand, an island and nature preserve on the German Elbe river, smack in the middle of one of Europe’s busiest waterways.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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