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
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Recent Examples of punch
Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Phoenix police have offered two accounts of what happened the night a pair of off-duty officers stood by as a man was fatally punched outside a downtown club.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2025
Dunkin’s new Berry Sangria Refresher combines a berry-forward holiday punch with customers’ choice of green tea, black tea, lemonade or sparkling water to make the drinks their own.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
He is accused of punching Manhattan Democratic District Leader William Allen as the protest descended into chaos Friday afternoon, sources told the newspaper.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Phoenix police have offered two accounts of what happened the night a pair of off-duty officers stood by as a man was fatally punched outside a downtown club.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Chia seeds are tiny, edible seeds that pack a nutritional punch, helping to support stable blood sugar levels thanks to their high fiber and protein content.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2025
Dunkin’s new Berry Sangria Refresher combines a berry-forward holiday punch with customers’ choice of green tea, black tea, lemonade or sparkling water to make the drinks their own.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
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He's also accused of slapping a nearby female passenger and trying to hit a crew member.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
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The 28-year-old allegedly went on to slap a female passenger to his left and attempted to slap a crew member.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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King Charles will reportedly drill it in to Prince Andrew’s head.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
28 Oct. 2025
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The deep floor of the LUNA testbed allows for sampling and drilling up to nine feet (three meters) below the surface, enabling scientists and engineers to test technologies for resource extraction, mobility and construction.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While oil continues to drive Saudi Arabia's economy, the kingdom is now expanding into areas such as artificial intelligence, tourism and sports to diversify its growth avenues.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
28 Oct. 2025
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These extinctions were driven mostly by European agriculture and the introduction of non-native species that outcompeted Australian animals.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Quietly handling the cornbread, with a buttery scent that smacks you right in the face, is her paternal grandmother.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
30 Oct. 2025
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As the scene unfolds, the gorilla suddenly lifts its arm and smacks the glass, causing a crack.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Produced before the gag order was lifted, the four-part docuseries One Night in Idaho turns its focus to the families, friends and community members still wrestling with the aftermath, offering a piercing look at a case with many unanswered questions.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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The grotesque details—the uncle’s fingernails piercing his hands, the dog’s permanent terror of rabbits—are simply there.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since last Thursday, Disney has run public messages notifying YouTube TV customers of a possible blackout.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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The duo will produce the film with David Glasser, who runs Sheridan’s production company 101 Studios.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The online education company, founded 20 years ago, has been hit by the rise of generative AI software tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which have become increasingly popular among students.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
28 Oct. 2025
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October 28, 2025 Ohtani hit his second home run of the night in the seventh inning to tie the matchup at five against the Toronto Blue Jays.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tom Aspinall’s heavyweight title defense at UFC 321 ended in chaos after Ciryl Gane accidentally poked him in both eyes late in the first round.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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Or use your finger, poking it about 2 inches into the soil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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