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
Those buildings not gutted by fire sport a rash of bullet holes or appear gap-toothed where an artillery shell punched through a wall. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Labor Day Speaker Deals Engineered to punch far above its palm-sized footprint, the second-generation Bose SoundLink Micro delivers surprisingly loud, detailed sound with deep bass. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
Labor Day Gaming Laptop Deals For gamers and power users seeking solid performance under $1,000, the MSI Cyborg 15 punches well above its weight. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026 Smith started just one more game for the Jets after the punch. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
  • The film ends with Sally and Gary happily in love, which begs a question that’s been gestating for 28 years — doesn’t that slap him with a death sentence?
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Apple has now discontinued the older 17 Pro models and slapped $100 price hikes on all other existing models, including the regular iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17e.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Here against Hull, Suzuki drilled a low pass into Jackson’s feet.
    Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Naturally, the privilege of drilling your marketing messages into the skulls of TV’s last great mass audience comes at a price.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 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
  • Republicans and Democrats alike have faced anger from voters anxious about the impact a data center built in their community will have on utility bills, property values, and quality of life.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The cat sanctuary made it through Lowell with limited impact, a relief after Hurricane Lala in August caused thousands of dollars in damage.
    GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Garden mum expert QiuXia Chen explains that the differences between potted mums and garden mums relate to their flower size, branching, flowering times, plant habit, and vigor.
    Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Appropriate pruning and sanitation practices, routine fertilization in accordance with the plant’s needs, and protection from environmental stressors (drought, heat, or cold) are all vital to maintaining vigor.
    Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • There have been plenty of in-game rotations, promising combinations, fluidity and creativity, but without the delivery of a final hammer blow.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The residents had sustained another blow when my friend, John Ahern, was a passenger on Pan Am Flight 103 that exploded on December 21, 1988 from a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 11 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
  • Ultimately, they were shouted down, most notably by the men who’d be told to don helmets and shoulder pads and smack one another into submission.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Suddenly a fan favorite in New York again, Volpe smacked a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs during his rousing return from Triple-A as the Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Thursday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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