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
Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
But two plays later, Drake Maye was lunging forward on a run and had the ball punched out.
—CBS News, 18 Jan. 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
The 24-year-old Sasaki threw a smooth 16 pitches, punching out the right-handed hitting Zavala, and inducing a pair of groundballs to shortstop from the lefty Kim.
—Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
But two plays later, Drake Maye was lunging forward on a run and had the ball punched out.
—CBS News, 18 Jan. 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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Your table will be licking their fingers.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
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When a boy had licked her neck at a party during the first week of college, a stranger!—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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The Times reviewed video of one incident that showed a fistfight between two youths that lasted 20 seconds.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Neither made any attempt to hide their contempt for the other from the media or the public.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
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Unlike other bands who have used a hiatus as an excuse to hide acrimony, James says the members went their separate ways with zero animosity.—
Daniel Kohn,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Workers and technicians are hammering away in preparation for the return of Blue Man Group to Orlando, right down to the placement and pounding of PVC pipes, one of the ensemble’s distinctive musical instruments.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
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Moisés Ballesteros, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ homered, and the Chicago Cubs handed the Mets their ninth straight loss, pounding New York 12-4 on Friday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Ukraine’s constant innovation in drone technology is giving its military an edge on the battlefield, dealing major blows to Russia’s army and economy.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
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Israel and Lebanon are currently scheduled to engage in direct talks in Washington on Tuesday as Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade blows.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On his last day before he’s scheduled to ride off on his motorcycle for a three-month sabbatical that’s only barely disguising his suicidal ideation, Robby spends his final shift lashing out at his co-workers.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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But the president on social media yesterday lashed out against Mamdani and the second home surcharge, which Mamdani has claimed as a victory in his quest to raise taxes on the rich.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 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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Canty is one of the coaches who whips students into shape.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Johnson whipped out his phone and shared a photo of Maivia with the audience, who applauded at the likeness.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punch out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch%20out. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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