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
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
One man repeatedly punches a man lying on the ground while another man appears to hold his feet.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
All three appear to assessing damage and talking before Riley punches a rear quarter window on Barber's vehicle, the complaint said.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
At under $500, this tablet punches way above its weight!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Five minutes later, Ottawa’s Ridly Greig and Brayden Schenn also exchanged punches.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The other man is briefly knocked off balance and falls to the ground after delivering a rapid series of punches.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Tenacious defense and timely free-throw shooting from David and junior Cooper Ellwood sealed the title for Rock Canyon, as star big Kai Valentine tackled junior Jonah Medina after the buzzer and threw a few gleeful fake punches at his chest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
The Premier League is about to pick up after both Arsenal and City were entangled in the diversions of domestic and European cup competitions since the last round of title punches were thrown just over a week ago.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The retro thing isn’t for everyone, but The Violet Mindfield certainly didn’t pull its punches.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
The two programs continued to trade punches until the half, with the Spartans maintaining a 21-17 edge at intermission.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
One man repeatedly punches a man lying on the ground while another man appears to hold his feet.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
All three appear to assessing damage and talking before Riley punches a rear quarter window on Barber's vehicle, the complaint said.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Five minutes later, Ottawa's Ridly Greig and Brayden Schenn also exchanged punches.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
At under $500, this tablet punches way above its weight!
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Five minutes later, Ottawa’s Ridly Greig and Brayden Schenn also exchanged punches.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The other man is briefly knocked off balance and falls to the ground after delivering a rapid series of punches.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Tenacious defense and timely free-throw shooting from David and junior Cooper Ellwood sealed the title for Rock Canyon, as star big Kai Valentine tackled junior Jonah Medina after the buzzer and threw a few gleeful fake punches at his chest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
The Premier League is about to pick up after both Arsenal and City were entangled in the diversions of domestic and European cup competitions since the last round of title punches were thrown just over a week ago.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The retro thing isn’t for everyone, but The Violet Mindfield certainly didn’t pull its punches.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
The two programs continued to trade punches until the half, with the Spartans maintaining a 21-17 edge at intermission.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punches
Verb
-
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
-
Think Nvidia’s new feature that slaps an AI filter onto your favorite games looks like garbage?—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pitchers throw every day in season between competition days, bullpens, flat ground sessions and box drills off of an incline from 35 feet out.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Another Arsenal goal kick and Raya, after a customary bit of stud cleaning, drills the ball long.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The social experience of living in Margaritaville, focused around the central activity space, drives much of the interest.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Lower compensation drives workers away, reduces availability and increases turnover.—
Peter Mattes,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The closure of Forever Young hits as vanishing federal aid and runaway Medicaid costs threaten an ambitious new initiative to expand affordable child care.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
-
For something a little less massive, this 12% price drop on the Legion 5i from Lenovo hits the spot.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The deal currently runs from 2029 to 2039, with the ceremony more specifically taking place at what’s currently known as the Peacock Theater (though naming rights will soon be up for grabs).—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Amazon Big Spring Sale officially kicks off today and runs March 25-31, offering a huge array of sales on everything from tech essentials to home decor.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In the letter, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Hancock knocks Paxton for how his agency allowed a Houston Muslim school into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
25 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 28 Mar. 2026.
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