1
as in to slap
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
Relevance
2
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
the real punch of the speech came in its closing lines
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind
we're going to need a candidate with real punch if voters are ever going to get excited about this election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the poor palooka wasn't able to land a single punch on his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument
old computers used to get information by reading the punches on a series of cards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of punch
Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
James McAvoy was punched by a stranger at a Toronto bar on Monday night while in town to premiere his directorial debut, California Schemin', at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Each one repackages familiar ideas in a form that feels new, but now threatens to lose its punch through frequent use.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
Yet the firm punches above its weight in custody, consistently ranking third behind Coinbase and BitGo.
—Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
James McAvoy was punched by a stranger at a Toronto bar on Monday night while in town to premiere his directorial debut, California Schemin', at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Charles providing scoring punch Kaila Charles has been on a tear the last few weeks.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Each one repackages familiar ideas in a form that feels new, but now threatens to lose its punch through frequent use.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
-
Later that night Plumier demonstrates by swiftly slapping the limp green body of a bullfrog hard across his leg.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The rover drilled a sample of it, which researchers called Sapphire Canyon, for an eventual return to Earth.—
David W. Brown,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Centennial expanded its margin to 10 when senior Justin Driver drilled a 50-yard field goal.—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Police reported the suspect got into an awaiting black SUV driven by a second suspect, and the pair fled the scene.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But there is also a deeper democratic malaise driven by his reluctance to heed the message delivered at the ballot box.—
Cole Stangler,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs crushed the Patriots that night, winning 41-14 at Arrowhead Stadium and Brady was benched after the Chiefs smacked him down.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Pinch-hitters Agustín Ramírez and Eric Wagaman then smacked consecutive RBI singles to deliver the Marlins their first lead of the series.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Polish officials said Russian drones pierced their airspace 19 times from late Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The morning sun barely pierced the haze over Maitighar Mandala, yet the atmosphere was electric.—
Sonal Nain,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
EDTIn a press conference, authorities shared security camera footage of the gunman running across a roof and jumping down from a building before leaving the Utah Valley University campus.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The design leans rustic (give or take a couple of Togo chairs), with moss green paneling, tartan upholstery, and wood beams running throughout.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When the financial crisis hit in 2008, Mindy Fitzpatrick considered selling her family’s 6-acre wooded lot on Friendly Road.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Sticker shock, though, is expected to hit when consumers shop for 2026 model year cars and trucks as more of those vehicles arrive at dealer lots, according to Cox Automotive.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Stars not just in front of, but within the dusty nebula, poke through all but the densest gas.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In July 2024, Thompson's daughter Gaia shared a cheeky post on her Instagram Stories poking fun at 2023's Barbie movie's tagline — and Thompson's ex, Kenneth Branagh.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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