punched

verb

past tense of punch
1
as in slapped
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner after the man had punched the bartender for eighty-sixing him, bouncers stepped in and restrained him until the police could arrive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in drilled
to make a hole or series of holes in punch a ticket

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in drove
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys punching cattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 punched Two people who saw the surveillance video recognized the man who punched Wilson as Harris, and one knew him from previous assaults in the area, the complaint said. — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2026 By Wednesday, Carter said, fallen branches had punched several holes through roofs across the campus, including the administration building. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 Police said the suspect punched a woman on a sidewalk before fleeing. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 As the train doors were about to close, the pair exited the train, facing off against each other, and the assailant punched the victim in the face. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 During the fight, Collins told detectives, his cousin punched his sister and threatened to kill them. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026 During this same incident, Sandoval further alleged that Robinson punched him in the face, injuring his neck and ear. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 Oba Femi punched the chair out of Brock’s hand and stuck him with the Fall from Grace for the win. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Police say that Salgado punched the victim and slammed him to the pavement. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punched
  1. slapped
  2. drilled
  3. drove
  4. smacked
  5. pierced
  6. ran
  7. knocked
  8. poked
Verb
  • Later in the series, Shah finds himself getting slapped in the face.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Slapping and/or being slapped was one of Oliver’s handful of requests for his soap opera appearance, along with playing a character with a ridiculous name, and wearing an equally ridiculous wig.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of slapped
Verb
  • The two-time All-Star shot 4 of 6 from the field and drilled two 3s.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Peters then drilled a first-pitch fastball from Tigers starter Jackson Jobe over the right-field wall for the tying two-run home run, his seventh of the season.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of drilled
Verb
  • The Lions drove to the Bengals 33 on the first series before Jordan Battle picked off Altmyer at the 25 after the pass went off the hands of wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And high costs and risky conditions along the route had already complicated Putin’s vision – even before Russia’s war against Ukraine drove international players from its Arctic territory.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of drove
Verb
  • Taylor Trammell then smacked his first triple of the year off the brick wall in right field before Allen sent him home with the go-ahead run off Keaton Winn (2-3).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • When Cunningham went up, Carrington jumped and smacked her in the face.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of smacked
Verb
  • Last month, the image of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo being pinned to the ground, his torso pierced by a bullet, became the latest evocation of that history.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • More than 180 bullets pierced, cracked or shattered windows in six buildings on campus.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of pierced
Verb
  • Birds chirp from atop the towering oak trees, and the peacefully running fountains set the tone for a serenity that'll carry through your weekend.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Payton wanted his starters to see the field for roughly 15 plays in the preseason opener, but the Falcons ran only 13 plays on their first four possessions combined.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ran
Verb
  • Ventura County Animal Services said Bruce, who was muzzled at the time, knocked the man to the ground.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Moments later, Sikorski walked past the teen girl who was recording the incident and her phone was knocked to the ground.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocked
Verb
  • In the 2024 playoffs, Carrington poked Fever phenom Caitlin Clark in the eye.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Offering a clever twist, the warm cake is poked with the handle of a wooden spoon, creating space for a vanilla-pineapple pudding to sink deep into the crumb.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of poked

Browse Nearby Words

punch-drunk
punched
punched out
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Cite this Entry

“Punched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punched. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on punched

Nglish: Translation of punched for Spanish Speakers

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