as in fisticuffs
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Recent Examples of punch-up
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
Of the new cast additions, only Ayoade is doing anything funny, but Xeni’s pretentious banter could have used a writerly punch-up from somebody like Richard Ayoade.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Oscar promo did end up being released, with the main concept intact but minus those punch-ups.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
In the hands of the endlessly inventive comedian, the tale of a boy who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and seeks out fame and fortune becomes a madcap delight complete with a zingy script, cartoonish punch-ups, collapsing sets, and a heady dose of magical realism.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 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
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
Of the new cast additions, only Ayoade is doing anything funny, but Xeni’s pretentious banter could have used a writerly punch-up from somebody like Richard Ayoade.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Oscar promo did end up being released, with the main concept intact but minus those punch-ups.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
In the hands of the endlessly inventive comedian, the tale of a boy who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and seeks out fame and fortune becomes a madcap delight complete with a zingy script, cartoonish punch-ups, collapsing sets, and a heady dose of magical realism.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 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
Noun
-
The shooting, which started as a fistfight over accusations of cheating, happened in the parking lot of the Pines at Castle Rock Apartments just after 1 a.m. Nov. 29, 2022.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
22 July 2025
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But after most fans filed out of the stadium, some San Diego supporters appeared to approach the visitors’ section, and multiple fistfights erupted — some dangerously close to the railing above the lower bowl.—
Mark Zeigler,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Noun
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But unlike the Wimbledon example, there’s no final score the robots can reach to end their slugfest.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
23 July 2025
-
The Giants keep this slugfest close on a cold, dreary, rainy day in East Rutherford against J.J. McCarthy, whom Schoen passed on in the 2024 draft.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Continuation of the war would mean more of Europe's time, money, and military aid is needed to support Ukraine, and threatens to lead to a direct NATO-Russia confrontation on the continent, with potentially catastrophic consequences.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
-
But a confrontation with Doreen near the end that becomes a self-reckoning for Lynette undersells the pathos.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Three police officers were also injured during the melee.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Oak Lawn’s police department also was formed after an unsavory incident, after several drunken Chicago police officers crashed a community dance in 1913 resulting in a melee involving around 75 residents.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
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
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The lefty was able to work his way out of trouble each time, first striking out Ozuna to end the third before getting a pair of punch-outs to end the fourth after initially putting two on with nobody out.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
The votes follow a recent street brawl that sparked concerns about crime in the city.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
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One of the victims of a viral brawl that happened in Cincinnati July 26 says she's been forced into hiding after the incident that left her severely injured.—
Adam Sabes , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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While event data usually collects tackles and duels, that’s just players being aggressive, but the art of defending is around positioning and anticipating play — not interventions.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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But the Twins didn’t get the call, dropping a game that had been a pitchers’ duel between starters Chris Paddack and Tyler Glasnow, who each allowed a solo home run — Paddack to Ohtani and Glasnow to Royce Lewis — but nothing else in their efforts.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch-up. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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