punch-drunk

adjective

ˈpənch-ˌdrəŋk How to pronounce punch-drunk (audio)
Definition of punch-drunknext
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion punch-drunk from having stayed up all night, she struggled through the exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-drunk Guiducci arrives at a moment when some of that anger has subsided, and the punch-drunk culture seems counterintuitively eager to escape into nostalgia and tastemaking, splashy profiles, and — just sometimes — confrontational journalism. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Having given us a punch-drunk vision of romantic dilemmas in her masterpiece of a debut, Song now delivers a more practical, hangover-adjacent look at how the human need for relationships gets turned into a bespoke luxury item. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025 Only the most punch-drunk partisan would give Republicans as much as a 50-50 chance of succeeding Gavin Newsom. — Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025 It’s better described as a series of springy volleys backward and forward through time—the movie ping-pongs between 2019 and 2006, with stops in between—that leave you feeling a little dizzy, even a bit punch-drunk. — Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for punch-drunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch-drunk
  1. dazed
  2. bewildered
  3. confused
  4. distracted
  5. stunned
  6. dizzy
Adjective
  • But the man simply stood there with a dazed expression on his face, swaying gently in the living room of their small, cramped flat, like a lone tree in the breeze.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Laiken Randolph appeared dazed, and possibly on drugs, officers remarked.
    — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of dazed
Adjective
  • For the first 12 minutes, the Bulls watched Brunson with the bewildered air of a student who forgot to study for a test.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Heat awoke Tuesday as the NBA’s only 0-4 team and thoroughly bewildered about how a group that fashioned itself a contender could continue to perform so poorly.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Adjective
  • The Dolphins’ secondary appeared confused and unprepared for Maye’s throws, which were pinpoint accurate.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The ones who were looked confused but kindly dropped candy into our bags.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • Workers in uncomfortable gear can become distracted, struggle through demanding shifts, and lose confidence that their employer takes their safety seriously.
    — Allison Anderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Its opposition to intense Pluto could make a distracted response sting more than expected.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of distracted
Adjective
  • That, to my mind, is why Wiles seemed so stunned by the firestorm that erupted when her words appeared in my 10,000-word Vanity Fair series last December.
    — Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The scene is one of many standout moments that left audiences and Fielder himself both stunned and uncomfortable.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • After receiving the alpha-lipoic acid, Hawrylak felt confused and dizzy.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • To that end, there are questions about whether Mayich and his teammates had access to sufficient water and the degree of attention ASU paid to his initial symptoms, including feeling dizzy.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of dizzy

Browse Nearby Words

punch
punch-drunk
punched
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Cite this Entry

“Punch-drunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch-drunk. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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