as in licked
to strike repeatedly
you should take a course in anger management—you can't go around punching out people
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punched out
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
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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Some even licked the candy to soften it -- a trick used by contestants in the show.—
Hakyung Kate Lee,
ABC News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Napkins were crumpled; plates were licked.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Inflation and rising costs have pounded the holiday budgets of most Americans, with many stretching their dollars further and starting their holiday planning earlier.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
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After exchanging zeros, All-Star catcher Will Smith pounded a solo home run with two outs in the 11th inning.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Picking sweet Julie mangoes from the big tree in the front yard of my childhood home; going to the beach where my late brother tried (and failed) to teach me to swim; visiting relatives during the summer in the very areas that were now being lashed by rain and wind.—
Grace White,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
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Vargas floated groups of migrants across the informal border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico on a makeshift raft made from wooden boards lashed to fat inner tubes.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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LaVine and Monk whipped the crowd into a frenzy, combining to make 17 of 32 from the field and 10 of 18 from 3-point range as the Kings bounced back from a season-opening loss to the Phoenix Suns.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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The cold brew is bitter but topped with a fluffy, whipped cold foam that tastes almondy, sweet and spice-filled.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shein—a global fast-fashion juggernaut headquartered in Singapore—was mere days away from opening its first physical store in Paris, inside the BHV Marais department store, when the news hit.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
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Rojas, a light-hitting infielder, hit an unexpected home run in the ninth inning of Game Seven to tie it and force extra innings, when the Dodgers won it.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The discussion came as Robinhood posted third quarter results that beat analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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That figure, which is provided by payrolls processing company ADP, beat the Dow Jones consensus estimate for an increase of 22,000.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Kelly was fired Sunday, one day after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M dropped the Tigers to 5-3 and all but knocked them out of the College Football Playoff race.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
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My husband was against the window and felt a pop that actually knocked our door from the frame.—
George Solis,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In one attack in mid-September, the militants attacked a convoy of more than 100 fuel trucks, setting fire to half of them, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), which maps conflicts.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who has trailed Spanberger for most of the race, has attacked Spanberger over Democrats' positions on the government shutdown and focused on trans issues, which helped Republicans win the governor's mansion in 2021.—
Benjamin Siegel,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punched out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punched%20out. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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