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
Eno Sarris, The Athletic, 23 Aug. 2024
Also featured are two selfie cameras, one on the cover display in a regular punch-out hole and a second under-display camera for the inner display.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Julianna Hammons, California School for the Deaf softball: Hammons broke the CSD school strikeout record, punching out 15 in an 8-5 win over Tomales.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch-out
Verb
In his first start in the big leagues, Festa struggled to turn his excellent stuff into strikeouts, giving up five runs with two punch-outs in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
—Eno Sarris, The Athletic, 23 Aug. 2024
Also featured are two selfie cameras, one on the cover display in a regular punch-out hole and a second under-display camera for the inner display.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Noun
After a wayward drive, Morikawa had to punch out from the pine straw.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Julianna Hammons, California School for the Deaf softball: Hammons broke the CSD school strikeout record, punching out 15 in an 8-5 win over Tomales.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch-out
Verb
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Two new friends spent the afternoon chatting, licking our deliciously unexpected delights and beginning a life-long bond.—
Susan Cunningham Euker,
Baltimore Sun,
14 June 2025
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The viral post opens with a quiet, intimate moment: the Labrador sits beside her puppy, gently licking her head.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Noun
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During their subsequent fistfight high above the fortress, Duke delivered the decisive headbutt that sent Lyle plunging to his death off the sofa back.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
18 June 2025
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Stir with a fistfight at Thanksgiving dinner, a kidnapping and a frantic road trip.—
Samantha Dunn,
Oc Register,
10 June 2025
Verb
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The first iteration of Somni opened in 2018 inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a restaurant hidden inside of José Andrés’s Bazaar, but closed in 2020 as a pandemic casualty.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
26 June 2025
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Transparency is another issue: Pricing for procedures varies wildly and is often hidden until the bill arrives.—
Paulina Wierzbicka,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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The left-hander got pounded a year ago and thumped again in his first taste of big-league action for eight runs in five innings against the Washington Nationals.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
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Kamala Harris pounded Joe Biden over his stances on busing from the 1970s—a long-ago dispute that even became fodder for J.D. Vance in 2024.—
Andrew Yang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Forecasters said Erick was expected over the coming hours to lash Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge.—
Luis Alberto Cruz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
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The White House previously lashed out at the CBO after its initial report on the bill, attacking an office traditionally seen as nonpartisan that provides budget analysis for lawmakers in both parties.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Noun
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From there, the two threw caution to the wind and engaged in a slugfest that Abdul-Malik got the best of.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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This all leads, of course, to the slugfest promised by the film’s title.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The San Diego native whipped a low cross into the box, which both Adriana Leon and Ascanio narrowly missed.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 June 2025
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Chelsea took the lead on 13 minutes when Neto raced away from deep inside the Flamengo half and opened his body before whipping the ball past Agustin Rossi.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved.—
David Szalay,
The New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Punch-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch-out. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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