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
ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
The outlets reported that Wood told a detective the 4-year-old boy punched her in the stomach and threw crayons at her.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 May 2025
Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 9 May 2025
That assertiveness was necessary because Boston’s 3-point attack again lacked its usual punch.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
The intruders punched the husband in the face and zip-tied the hands and feet of both homeowners.
—ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
The outlets reported that Wood told a detective the 4-year-old boy punched her in the stomach and threw crayons at her.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 May 2025
Noun
The sound quality delivers a serious punch, and voices sound crisp and clear during video calls and while watching movies.
—Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 9 May 2025
That assertiveness was necessary because Boston’s 3-point attack again lacked its usual punch.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
-
Honda’s results come amid trade tensions with the U.S., which has slapped a 25% tariff on foreign automobile imports.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
-
Trump has made clear that his shock plans to slap a 100% tariff on film imports would not be included in a trade deal with the UK, where Pryce films Slow Horses.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
The Bears’ senior drilled a walk-off double to center field in the bottom of the seventh that scored two runs, giving Menlo-Atherton a 4-3 win Wednesday over Burlingame in a Peninsula Athletic League Bay contest.—
Mike Lefkow,
Mercury News,
8 May 2025
-
Indeed, prices are now low enough that, on average, U.S. producers cannot profitably drill new wells, according to the latest survey data from the Dallas Federal Reserve.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
About 150 students and 50 adults were evacuated from an elementary school in Maryland after hours of heavy rains driven by an atmospheric river caused major flooding in multiple eastern states.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
This clearly indicates that visibility, when supported with structure, drives retention.—
Saurabh Jain,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
He was considered a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, slamming opponents through tables and smacking them with chairs.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2025
-
Lemont 22-3-1 (5) Rocco Luciano smacks two-run double to spark Lemont to 5-0 win over Lincoln-Way West. 4.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
Taking the main melody, the nine-time Grammy winner’s piercing voice soars over lush harmonies provided by the other singers, with Eilish adding her own tasteful riffs throughout.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
If one chapter of your mortal span—your wartime experience, or a love affair—has pierced you more sharply than any other, why shouldn’t that chapter go up front?—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
Verb
-
Finally, the Liberty got to enjoy the final piece of last year’s thrilling WNBA Finals run by watching the elusive title banner rise up to the rafters before Saturday’s 92-78 season-opening win against the Las Vegas Aces.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
18 May 2025
-
In an administration currently running the lowest early-months public opinion rating in modern history, however, Vance’s forcefulness carries long-term risk.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
Prosecutors say Read deliberately hit O’Keefe, 46, outside the home a fellow cop and left him for dead in a drunken rage.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
-
The Powerball jackpot was last won April 26, when a Kentucky player hit the $167 million grand prize, lottery officials said.—
Don Sweeney,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
During that same April 5 episode, Weekend Update’s Colin Jost poked fun at the singer in a bit about the economy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
12 May 2025
-
The contest did not last long as Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye 18 seconds into the second round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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