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

After letting other fast men hit out first in the wind, Magnier punches through the middle and there is nothing that rivals Jordi Meeus or Jasper Philipsen can do. —Andy McGrath, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026

Hong Kong’s Mighty Mini-Island Cheung Chau, the pint-sized powerhouse of an island, punches well above its weight in charm and chill vibes. —Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026

But for a city of under 60,000 year-round residents, this place punches well above its weight class. —Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026

Kingsley Ibeh, right, punches Jarrell Miller during a heavyweight boxing match in New York City on Saturday. —Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026

For podcasts, streams, voiceovers and video calls, this unit punches above its weight. —New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026

This is really reminding me of that House episode where the runway model punches another model out and then collapses on the catwalk. —Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026

Housing is one of those sectors that punches above its weight, thanks to all the other purchases that come with the purchase of a new home, such as services, appliances, furniture, and so on. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2026

Coley punches back, and Sonya manages to pull her off of him. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2025

Noun

But amid the coronation for their crosstown rival, Gottlieb was looking for anything that told her this Trojans team could take some punches and also give some back in March. —Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026

In addition, it will be designed to deliver long-range missile punches instead of engaging in dogfights. —David Szondy march 01, New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2026

Edvinsson landed a couple of solid punches and dropped Cozens to the ice. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Police were called to step in when there was shoving and punches being thrown. —Julia Avant, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026

The suspect later returned and threw several punches at the manager — who recovered, subdued the man and forced him out of the store, according to news reports. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026

Hopland’s dining scene punches above its weight. —Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026

Leigh-Anne Pinnock is not one to pull punches. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2026

The robots carried out coordinated martial arts moves, including punches, kicks, and high-difficulty flips. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026