Synonyms of punches

punches 1 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of punch

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

• slaps
• hits
• knocks
• smacks
• slams
• claps
• bangs
• whacks
• strikes
• clips
• swipes
• pounds
• kicks
• cracks
• jabs
• bats
• nails
• boxes
• shoves
• bashes
• thumps
• taps
• swats
• hammers
• pokes
• licks
• thwacks
• socks
• pushes
• flicks
• bludgeons
• stabs
• belts
• zaps
• chops
• tags
• bobs
• wallops
• clocks
• slugs
• bops
• smites
• raps
• clouts
• pastes
• bonks
• clobbers
• biffs
• strokes
• whales
• bumps
• busts
• slogs
• beats
• stamps
• mauls
• pummels
• cuffs
• slashes
• batters
• knees
• hangs one on
• peppers
• lashes
• roughs
• laces
• pelts
• whips
• jostles
• buffets
• butts
• mangles
• dumps
• bunts
• scuffs
• drubs
• decks
• prods
• flails
• lambastes
• spears
• switches
• creams
• bowls (down or over)
• fells
• pommels
• brains
• clubs
• saps
• canes
• knocks down
• floors
• thrashes
• conks
• beans
• levels
• sucker punches
• bungs
• sledges
• cudgels
• skulls
• flogs
• sledgehammers
• rabbit-punches

2

as in drills

to make a hole or series of holes in

punch a ticket

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drills
• pierces
• holes
• pokes
• punctures
• taps
• perforates
• bores
• cuts
• riddles
• penetrates
• pricks
• breaks
• slashes
• broaches
• splits
• gouges
• slits
• grooves
• notches
• hollows
• prickles
• burrows (into)
• excavates
• rends
• ruptures
• gashes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fills
• seals
• plugs
• patches

3

as in drives

to urge, push, or force onward

cowboys punching cattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drives
• runs
• herds
• whips
• presses
• eggs
• shepherds
• pricks
• spurs
• prompts
• prods
• goads
• wrangles
• exhorts
• flogs
• scourges
• hounds

punches

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of punch

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

• blows
• slaps
• swipes
• thuds
• hits
• thumps
• knocks
• pounds
• strokes
• whacks
• pokes
• smacks
• spanks
• licks
• bangs
• beats
• clips
• slams
• hooks
• claps
• swats
• haymakers
• kicks
• chops
• lashes
• cuffs
• socks
• belts
• hands
• switches
• pelts
• thwacks
• biffs
• welts
• stripes
• bops
• fillips
• hacks
• slugs
• raps
• bats
• knees
• whams
• bashes
• smashes
• buffets
• stingers
• picks
• clouts
• boxes
• wallops
• dabs
• lickings
• cracks
• plumps
• swings
• counterpunches
• whops
• busts
• douses
• beatings
• larrups
• uppercuts
• lefts
• counters
• shivers
• roundhouses
• counterblows
• rabbit punches
• sucker punches
• whips
• counterstrokes
• rights
• knockdowns
• body blows
• KOs
• whippings
• batterings
• thrashings
• right-handers
• knockouts
• crunchers
• kayos
• sidewinders
• one-twos
• pastings
• drubbings
• bastinadoes
• wallopings

punches

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of punch

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

• punctures
• tears
• slits
• perforations
• cuts
• pricks
• pinholes
• stabs
• grooves
• pinpricks
• breaks
• slashes
• hollows
• gouges
• lacerations
• rips
• rents
• ruptures
• notches
• incisions
• gashes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of punches

Verb

That Febreze bottle is empty and the scented candle burned out — the current Giants’ stink punches you right in the nose, mouth and eyes. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

After a 20-yard throw and catch, Andrew Chung to Yuto Kawamura-Johnson, Warriors RB Jayden Ammons punches it in for a 1-yard TD. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

And if the pizza isn’t enticing enough, Urban Cowboy’s cocktail program punches far above its weight class. — Beth Rankin, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

As the officer is pinned down, one person repeatedly punches her in the head while another appears to strike her with an unidentified object before a second officer intervenes. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Plus, the contrast stitching throughout both the top and shorts gives it a polished look that punches well above its $37 price tag. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau punches the ball clear as Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic attempts to head the ball during a World Cup ground-stage match in Toronto on June 12, 2026. — Sean Gregory, Time, 30 June 2026

Humble and simple, this Tomato-Basil Chicken punches way above its weight. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 28 June 2026

One area where the EM11 NL punches above its weight is connectivity. — Sascha Brodsky, PC Magazine, 21 June 2026

Noun

No punches were thrown, and Oruwariye and Knight were separated quickly. — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

During Monday’s press conference, Bessent sought to tamp down on criticism that the administration was pulling its punches. — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026

Tea slushies, lemonades, fruit punches, and aguas frescas are confidently complete on their own; a splash of a spirit is an optional pairing rather than the standard offering. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

When asked about Kimmel Live being pulled from air last September and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert being canceled last July, Povich pulls no punches. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026

And then a full-on brawl with punches exchanged to top it off. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Its unfiltered approach blends big laughs with social commentary and emotional gut punches, a combination that immediately drew Belli in. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026

The little breaths, the cloth grabs and punches were all deliberate. — Simon Thompson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Food and Drink For a boutique hotel, The Vineta punches above its weight in terms of dining. — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026