1
as in slaps
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
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2
as in drills
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in blows
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 punctures
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 punches
Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
The Soundcore 2 is a compact classic that punches well above its weight class with 12W of power and dual neodymium drivers.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Vilnius is consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026
It’s consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Every movie doesn’t have to be who punches hardest.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2026
Vilnius is consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2026
So Tommy reassumes his role as the head of the Peaky Blinders, essentially punches the Germans one more time in the face, and gets a meaningful, gorgeously shot sequence in the film’s final act.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Shesterkin looked to get the edge, feeding Markström with a series of right-handed punches.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Shesterkin appeared to have got the better of Markstrom in the scrum, landing more punches than his goaltending counterpart did.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Bored with his tedious job, flattened by a wife (Phoebe Cates) who has cavalierly deserted him, the spry little guy is feeling the punches.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
At under $550, this tablet punches way above its weight!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
What was the precise number of punches Brown dealt her?
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
After a barrage of punches, kicks, and throws—all set to a Limp Bizkit song—the 72-year-old flexes his muscles while flames shoot out around him.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
While the woman’s wrists are being held to her sides, Lentz punches her several times, the video shows.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
The Soundcore 2 is a compact classic that punches well above its weight class with 12W of power and dual neodymium drivers.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Vilnius is consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026
It’s consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Every movie doesn’t have to be who punches hardest.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2026
Vilnius is consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2026
So Tommy reassumes his role as the head of the Peaky Blinders, essentially punches the Germans one more time in the face, and gets a meaningful, gorgeously shot sequence in the film’s final act.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Shesterkin looked to get the edge, feeding Markström with a series of right-handed punches.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Shesterkin appeared to have got the better of Markstrom in the scrum, landing more punches than his goaltending counterpart did.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Bored with his tedious job, flattened by a wife (Phoebe Cates) who has cavalierly deserted him, the spry little guy is feeling the punches.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
At under $550, this tablet punches way above its weight!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
What was the precise number of punches Brown dealt her?
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
After a barrage of punches, kicks, and throws—all set to a Limp Bizkit song—the 72-year-old flexes his muscles while flames shoot out around him.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punches
Verb
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The music also slaps, synthesizing industrial, electro-pop and iPod party music into a work that feels honest and the right kind of raunchy.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Sporting a bright yellow raincoat and rainboots, Garcia pretends to be a journalist reporting on the storm in West Kendall as a palm tree leaf slaps her across the face.—
Xitlalic Montelongo,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Skeleton drills with rags hanging from their shorts.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For Robert Flamerich, who drives from Miami Beach to Doral daily, conserving gas means sacrificing comfort.—
Austin Carter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The heat causes the second liquid to turn to steam, and the steam drives a generator turbine, producing electricity.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On a day when balls were not leaving the yard and hits to the warning track were rare, the Cubs still thrived.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Trash truck hits a resident’s vehicle – $47,000 The Board of Estimates approved a $47,000 settlement for Donald Stepp after a Department of Public Works trash truck struck his vehicle on Dundalk Avenue in February 2023.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Lower the heat to medium-high and cook, gently stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and a paring knife easily pierces a potato, about 15 minutes.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The festival runs from May 4 to May 10.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Using a synesthetic logic all his own, Torres explains why Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson is orange, Catholicism is purple, and navy blue is the nefarious color that secretly runs the world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
It’s packed with anti-theft features Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The penetration holes indicate that the internal facility is likely bombed out, destroying anything that was inside.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
How to Limit Attraction Sealing unwanted tiny cracks, gaps in doors or windows, or utility lines, and holes around the home is one of the best ways to prevent ants from gaining access in the first place.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punches. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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