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 After arriving, the two got into an argument, during which Eason alleges Rodriguez punched him in the face with a closed fist. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 Police say that Salgado punched the victim and slammed him to the pavement. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 30 July 2026 The café-bar is a pleasant enough hangout with slate-gray walls punched with color, shelves of artsy souvenirs, and design magazines worth browsing, but the surrounding streets are stacked with great dining options. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026 Brown was accused of twice hitting the victim with a glass bottle to his head while Akinlolu punched him. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 24 July 2026 Lambert then punched Powell multiple times in the head, the affidavit says. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 23 July 2026 Millhouse punched Brown twice while approaching the front door, causing the the councilperson to fall to the ground, according to a probable cause affidavit later authored by Oakland police. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 23 July 2026 Video shows part of arrest in Meridian Ten seconds into the initial video, the officer sitting on the man punched him, according to the footage. — Alex Brizee july 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026 Argentina punched its ticket to the final after rallying past England with a 2-1 win on Wednesday, July 15, while Spain advanced with a 2-0 win over France on Tuesday, July 14. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 17 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
  • The liability verdict Basabe’s former aide, Nicolas Frevola, testified that Basabe slapped him in the face at a private event in January 2023 and that Basabe slapped his butt without his consent a month prior.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
  • The Atlanta Journal’s weather reporter went to Florida to spend a quiet vacation away from the elements — and on the very first day a tropical storm jumped up and slapped him in the face.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of slapped
Verb
  • Knight then drilled Omega headfirst onto the TNT title for a nearfall.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Julio Rodríguez popped out on the first pitch before Canzone drilled a 2-0 splitter about 20 rows up.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Definition of drilled
Verb
  • The Jayhawks defeated Wichita State on Monday in Wichita, drove back to Lawrence on Tuesday morning, then boarded the bus for Lexington late Tuesday afternoon.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • The Iran war triggered a historic oil shortage that drove up fuel costs and catapulted inflation to a three-year high in May, the same month Warsh took the helm of the central bank.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of drove
Verb
  • The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman smacked a 463-foot whopper late last month.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 July 2026
  • Almost two years ago, China’s east coast was smacked by one of the strongest storms in decades, which temporarily halted container operations at both Shanghai and Ningbo ports.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 July 2026
Definition of smacked
Verb
  • According to the artist who made it, John Buckley, and the owner of the home pierced by the shark, Bill Heine, the work was meant as a protest against the recent bombing of Libya, nuclear power and nuclear war, among other things.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
  • In his season of DWTS, Irwin opened up about navigating grief after the death of his father Steve Irwin, who died in 2006 after being pierced by a stingray barb.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of pierced
Verb
  • The former Charlotte bus driver, who just unsuccessfully ran for a Mecklenburg County Commission at-large seat, faces charges of assaulting a federal agent while on federal property.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • As token prices decline, demand for these supporting systems may grow because companies will run more models across more tasks.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of ran
Verb
  • As Occhicone knocked on windows and doors, he was confronted by Gerrity's 66-year-old father, Raymon Artzner.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • In one photo, Bloom appeared to have just popped his head out of the water as Laemmel approached, and in another, the model wrapped her arms around the actor before — as seen in another snap — a wave knocked Bloom over into the water.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Definition of knocked
Verb
  • 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
  • Let sit at room temperature until buns are puffed and expanded to edges of muffin cups (dough will spring back when poked but hold a slight indentation), 25–35 minutes.
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of poked

Browse Nearby Words

punch-drunk
punched
punched out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Punched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punched. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on punched

Nglish: Translation of punched for Spanish Speakers

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