punch-up

noun

Definition of punch-upnext
chiefly British
as in fisticuffs

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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-up About deluded coaches and philandering teammates and practice-field punch-ups. — Leander Schaerlaeckens june 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026 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 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 But comics depend on feedback – punch-ups from fellow comedians and reactions from audiences – iterating jokes in the same way lean startups may innovate new products. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025 That said, the negative reputation surrounding the last lines in Jones’ thorny adaptation — a punch-up from Ellison’s original text that’s meaner and more sexist, no doubt — seems outsized. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 July 2025 Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025 Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved. — David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch-up
  1. fistfight
  2. slugfest
  3. blows
  4. confrontation
  5. melee
  6. punch-out
  7. brawl
  8. duel
Noun
  • After the high-speed chase erupts into gunfire and a brutal fistfight, Kim hijacks the vehicle, takes the official hostage and speeds off a bridge into the water below.
    — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Later, Enola also participates in a horseback chase and violent fistfight with the female villain.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Definition of fistfight
Noun
  • Sweden loses key piece The first half was a sloppy slugfest as both teams tried to use their physicality to assume control.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • The Republican race for governor between Rick Jackson and Burt Jones has been nothing short of a slugfest.
    — Shannon McCaffrey, AJC.com, 10 June 2026
Definition of slugfest
Noun
  • Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at age 33, 11 years after sustaining life-altering blows to the head during the only defeat of his professional career.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Some encouraging blows for common sense were struck by primary voters to our north on Tuesday, on both sides of the aisle.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of blows
Noun
  • Authorities have not identified the suspect and are continuing to investigate what led to the confrontation.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Mughal right wing avoided direct confrontation with the elephants and instead attacked Hemu’s troops on the sides.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of confrontation
Noun
  • In the melee the Koh-i-Noor was smuggled to the Persian general Ahmad Khan Abdali by a devoted harem member.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The melee was a hot topic at Monday night's city council meeting.
    — Julia Avant, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of melee
Noun
  • Most people aren’t focused on Advent calendars right now — those chocolates hidden under perforated punch-outs to celebrate each day of the season.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
  • During the portion of Thursday’s practice open to reporters, the Patriots practiced punch-out drills directly in front of reporters.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
Definition of punch-out
Noun
  • Apart from a drunken brawl in Ukraine a few years ago, which resulted in no charges, she was not known to the authorities.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Cubs fans reserved their real animosity for Sox fans, and naturally blamed them for the huge brawl in the right-center bleachers Monday night that quickly went viral.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of brawl
Noun
  • The Throne Room Duel & A-Wing comes with two battle podiums, where the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader minifigures can be placed to have an epic lightsaber duel.
    — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And this game will be the first Border War duel in Lawrence since 2005, a Friday night game on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
    — PJ Green August 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of duel

Browse Nearby Words

punch-outs
punch-up
punch-ups
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Cite this Entry

“Punch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch-up. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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