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
ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
The outlets reported that Wood told a detective the 4-year-old boy punched her in the stomach and threw crayons at her.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 May 2025
Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Different plants supply you with different antioxidants that can pack a greater anti-inflammatory punch together.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
The intruders punched the husband in the face and zip-tied the hands and feet of both homeowners.
—ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
The outlets reported that Wood told a detective the 4-year-old boy punched her in the stomach and threw crayons at her.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 May 2025
Noun
Golden and Jayden Reed become the 1-2 punch at wide receiver for the Packers.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Different plants supply you with different antioxidants that can pack a greater anti-inflammatory punch together.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
-
The film, a part of the sprawling Marvel franchise, was approved for release in China before Washington and Beijing slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on each other.—
Casey Hall and Sophie Yu,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Local News In 2020, Jennifer Vasquez alleged he was kicked, slapped and shoved by husband In a 2020 protective order, Jennifer Vasquez alleged that her husband verbally abused, kicked, slapped, and shoved her.—
Mikenzie Frost,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
Verb
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The Bears’ senior drilled a walk-off double to center field in the bottom of the seventh that scored two runs, giving Menlo-Atherton a 4-3 win Wednesday over Burlingame in a Peninsula Athletic League Bay contest.—
Mike Lefkow,
Mercury News,
8 May 2025
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On the Knicks’ next possession, Bridges drilled a 3-pointer from the corner, getting help from the backboard as the ball glanced off the glass.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2025
Verb
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From the stage is where Chen primarily drives the story of Bad Boy.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
-
The video showed several vehicles that drove around the minivan in the lanes on either side.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Guests can also hop a free shuttle to the hotel’s sister property, Skylark Negril Beach Resort, smack on Seven Mile Beach.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Someone on the other team took a shot at him, and the puck tipped right under his visor and hit him in the eye, squarely smacking him right in the eyeball.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If one chapter of your mortal span—your wartime experience, or a love affair—has pierced you more sharply than any other, why shouldn’t that chapter go up front?—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
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Taking the main melody, the nine-time Grammy winner’s piercing voice soars over lush harmonies provided by the other singers, with Eilish adding her own tasteful riffs throughout.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Applicants will be selected in August, and the program will run from September through November in New York City.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
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This story will run after Episode 4, but in Episode 3, clearly Dina wants something to happen in the tent.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winning shot, crossing over Antetokounmpo and driving to the basket for a right-handed layup with 1.3 seconds left.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
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The western starring Alec Baldwin, who also came up with the story and serves as a producer, was hit by tragedy during production in October 2021 when Baldwin’s prop gun discharged during a rehearsal, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and also injuring director-screenwriter Joel Souza.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Pickard poked fun at himself late in the regular season for doing a double-pad stack in 2025.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Several viewers have shared their own opinions on what the goldendoodle's decision to stay downstairs with the man means, while others have expressed how similarly their own pets behave, or poked fun at the viral moment, causing joy among viewers.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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