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
Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
On Azaelea, the iconic 13th hole, McIlroy was again way offline, punching out from the pine straw and hitting a security rope on the ground.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 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
Pérez looked in control almost immediately, striking out Garrett Mitchell to begin the game and punching out five through his first three innings.
—Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
On Azaelea, the iconic 13th hole, McIlroy was again way offline, punching out from the pine straw and hitting a security rope on the ground.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 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
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Gilgeous-Alexander licked his chops at what Game 1 presented.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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But host Kristen Kish is licking her lips at the prospect of taking the show even further afield in the future.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Garcia left the Family Express, but then soon returned and a fistfight began with the man, who was arguing with Garcia’s relative.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Police allege that on the fateful afternoon, three Norteños ran into three rival Fremont Sureños at the convenience store, resulting in a fistfight and then the shooting.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Without sofas, curtains, or rugs to soften things, your color palette has nowhere to hide.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
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Many fish live, hide and eat the small shrimp and crabs that are within the seaweed, which made her snorkeling adventure more exciting.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The Charlotte area received 2 to 2 1/2 inches of sometimes pounding rain this week, according to the National Weather Service.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
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Larnach’s two-run double in the fourth inning on Tuesdsay split the gap and broke the game open as the Twins pounded the Washington Nationals 11-3 at Nationals Park.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The visit also comes as both sides have been trading blows ahead of the summit.—
Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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His saga has been built with blows of faith, discipline and a conviction rarely seen, even at the elite level.—
Jorge Ebro
May 6,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Verb
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In previous years, the 31-year-old originally from Chicago might have lashed back when accosted on the ice.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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Lively has maintained this approach was in line with the press tactic laid out for her by Sony, but the internet quickly lashed out at her given the film’s serious subject matter.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 May 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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The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Real estate agents whipped out their phones to put a hard sell on anything east of I-95.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punch out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch%20out. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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