as in licked
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punched out
But two plays later, Drake Maye was lunging forward on a run and had the ball punched out.
—
CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Packer defensive lineman Willie Davis somehow punched out the ball.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
In a closeout opportunity for the defending champions, Shohei Ohtani took the mound for LA and punched out 10 batters across six-plus scoreless innings of work.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
The mass of players converged in a pile after the snap, and as Arnold leaned across the goal line, Georgia linebacker CJ Allen punched out the football.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Then, Rams running back Kyren Williams fumbled on his way to the end zone, the ball literally punched out just feet away from scoring a go-ahead touchdown.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
The late, great Red Sox legend Luis Tiant also punched out 11 in his MLB debut, but with Cleveland on July 19, 1964; his performance was exactly four years after Hall of Famer Juan Marichal racked up 12 in his first career game on July 19, 1960.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Packer defensive lineman Willie Davis somehow punched out the ball.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
In a closeout opportunity for the defending champions, Shohei Ohtani took the mound for LA and punched out 10 batters across six-plus scoreless innings of work.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
The mass of players converged in a pile after the snap, and as Arnold leaned across the goal line, Georgia linebacker CJ Allen punched out the football.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Then, Rams running back Kyren Williams fumbled on his way to the end zone, the ball literally punched out just feet away from scoring a go-ahead touchdown.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
The late, great Red Sox legend Luis Tiant also punched out 11 in his MLB debut, but with Cleveland on July 19, 1964; his performance was exactly four years after Hall of Famer Juan Marichal racked up 12 in his first career game on July 19, 1960.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punched out
Verb
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Of course, the flue was closed, so the fire licked up the walls, left a smell like the fall, like ancient smokehouses and dung.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
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At Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, the oldest carving factory in America, a team of former archaeologists and butchers creates ephemeral art designed to be licked, touched, and eventually, lost.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hezbollah also fired rockets, as Israel pounded targets in the suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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Shay Whitcomb of the Houston Astros hit two home runs in back-to-back plate appearances, teammate Bo Gyeong Moon pounded a grand slam and Jahmai Jones of the Detroit Tigers added a solo shot in the eighth inning.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Most recently, the White Stripes rocker lashed out after Trump posted a since‑deleted video on his official Truth Social account depicting Michelle and Barack Obama as apes.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The puck went to Clarke, who adjusted his angle and whipped a shot through a Corey Perry screen.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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So everyone whipped out their phones at the table, which is a very rude thing to do, but in an emergency—in a Hollywood emergency—it was allowed.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In seeing their six-game winning streak halted just before hitting the friendly skies for a four-game road trip that tips off in Phoenix on Sunday, the Hornets (32-32) were victimized by Miami in the fourth quarter.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Mar. 2026
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Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the fifth to push the Americans’ lead to 4-1.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Necas added his seventh power-play goal of the season 2 1/2 minutes later, beating his Czech Olympic teammate with a high shot.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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In the last ten years, Berkshire shares have gained 250%, also beating the S & P 500.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of the teens fell off the vehicle and was knocked unconscious.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Another officer knocked repeatedly at the door, but there was no answer, though Wojcik said the officers could see someone was inside.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iran, Israel and the United States also have attacked oil and gas facilities since the war started, worsening supply concerns.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Its national oil company declared force majeure after the country’s sole oil refinery was attacked.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punched out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punched%20out. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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