as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
you should take a course in anger management—you can't go around punching out people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in fistfight
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punch out
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2026
Alex tried to punch out from a awkward lie, but hit another tree, and the ball came to rest on the edge of the cart path, still 209 yards away.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
But back in the 2010s, Kershaw was a dominant strikeout pitcher who recorded at least 200 punch-outs in a season seven times during the ten-year span from 2010 to 2019.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch out
Verb
Carroll punched out 10 hits including 2 each for Bo Kuhn and Jackson James at the bottom of the order.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2026
Alex tried to punch out from a awkward lie, but hit another tree, and the ball came to rest on the edge of the cart path, still 209 yards away.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
The two of them flirt, but of course the affair is not consummated, and Sergeant Sullivan pits them against each other in a punch-out exercise.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
But back in the 2010s, Kershaw was a dominant strikeout pitcher who recorded at least 200 punch-outs in a season seven times during the ten-year span from 2010 to 2019.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch out
Verb
-
Chalk it up to a bad match, and lick your wounds.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
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Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The only provocation, Nguyen suggested, was when David — who had just been attacked by the suspect and his friends — challenged him to a fistfight in the plaza.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
In Milan, Italy, a fistfight erupted.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Images from 2004 show the sisters hiding their low ponytails under buttoned jackets and fur collars; the tops of their heads teased.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
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The unique features hide a center touchscreen the way an architect’s home keeps prosaic televisions out of sight.—
Lawrence Ulrich,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The biggest blows came from Garcia and Starling Marte.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
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Suddenly, Brooks began raining down blows on Sumner with a gutta-percha cane while an accomplice warded off lawmakers who tried to intervene.—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Verb
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They might be jolted awake with a pounding heart, multiple times a night, for years.—
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
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When the worker said yes, there followed a cacophony of voices, radios, and pounding boots as police stormed the property.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The Yankees started their slugfest in style against the Rays, as Judge’s big fly traveled 429 feet to the batter’s eye at Steinbrenner Field.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
20 Aug. 2025
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Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover Notes: It’s been a slow, ugly slugfest among the backup tight ends to see who can win the No. 3 job.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Lately, though, the president has upset religious conservatives by posting a Christ-like image of himself online as well as lashing out at Pope Leo and the Vatican.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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Iran’s lashing out at Israel for the sake of Hezbollah carries major risks.—
Sam Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Among them are Neeson as a Great Gatsby-esque type who puts Declan in the hospital after a punch-up and Cleese as a priest who also doubles as the Grim Reaper.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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Two of the pilots are multi-camera shows, which are shot in front of a live audience and can benefit from the plethora of comedy writers who live in the area and serve as punch-up writers.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punch out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch%20out. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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