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
Relevance
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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
Many of these nations have spent years building a footballing infrastructure that punches well above their demographic weight.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 11 June 2026
During an intense scene, Simon punches a hole through a fellow actor’s face.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
This clever drink holder is another sneaky space saver that punches way above its weight.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
The officer then punches her multiple times, apparently in the face and upper body.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Places like Adelaide, Australia, a city within a park that punches above its weight with world-class wine, a booming food scene, and Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music designation.
—AFAR Media, 30 May 2026
At under $150, this one punches well above its weight.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 24 May 2026
Kyle Busch punches Joey Logano on pit road at Las Vegas!
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
Three days before the first punches are set to be thrown at a White House-UFC event, the South Lawn is unrecognizable.
—Nik Popli, Time, 11 June 2026
Last year, as Harbour was gearing up for the release of Stranger Things' final season, he was forced to grapple with the very public fallout of his split from Allen, who pulled no punches while addressing their separation on her October 2025 album, West End Girl.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
To fight well means practicing how to control one’s emotions, how to synchronize breaths with punches, how to set aside vanity, how to prevail through extreme discipline and restraint.
—Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Lasers, punches, and tail swings toppled skyscrapers, giving each battle a cool, cinematic feel.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Within that multi-year unwinding, the SOX suffered two more gut punches of more than 10% on a single day in October 2000 and July 2002.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 8 June 2026
Photos from the event show Knox, who will be 18 in July, exchanging punches and kicks with an opponent.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
For a sparsely populated state with only four votes in the Electoral College, Maine punches above its weight politically, which is reflected in the $300 million spent already by the campaigns and dark money Political Action Committees.
—David Millward, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026
Verb
Food and drink The restaurant is intimate, with seating for 40, but the food punches way above its weight.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
Many of these nations have spent years building a footballing infrastructure that punches well above their demographic weight.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 11 June 2026
During an intense scene, Simon punches a hole through a fellow actor’s face.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
This clever drink holder is another sneaky space saver that punches way above its weight.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
The officer then punches her multiple times, apparently in the face and upper body.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Places like Adelaide, Australia, a city within a park that punches above its weight with world-class wine, a booming food scene, and Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music designation.
—AFAR Media, 30 May 2026
At under $150, this one punches well above its weight.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 24 May 2026
Kyle Busch punches Joey Logano on pit road at Las Vegas!
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Noun
Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
Three days before the first punches are set to be thrown at a White House-UFC event, the South Lawn is unrecognizable.
—Nik Popli, Time, 11 June 2026
Last year, as Harbour was gearing up for the release of Stranger Things' final season, he was forced to grapple with the very public fallout of his split from Allen, who pulled no punches while addressing their separation on her October 2025 album, West End Girl.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
To fight well means practicing how to control one’s emotions, how to synchronize breaths with punches, how to set aside vanity, how to prevail through extreme discipline and restraint.
—Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Lasers, punches, and tail swings toppled skyscrapers, giving each battle a cool, cinematic feel.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Within that multi-year unwinding, the SOX suffered two more gut punches of more than 10% on a single day in October 2000 and July 2002.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 8 June 2026
Photos from the event show Knox, who will be 18 in July, exchanging punches and kicks with an opponent.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
For a sparsely populated state with only four votes in the Electoral College, Maine punches above its weight politically, which is reflected in the $300 million spent already by the campaigns and dark money Political Action Committees.
—David Millward, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punches
Verb
-
Wilhelm enters the room, removes most of his clothing and gets into bed with her, slaps her, pushes her away and then caresses her face and cradles her.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
That direct relationship is what separates a true farm to table operation from a restaurant that simply slaps the phrase on a marketing page.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
He is hyperfocused on details and drills home teaching points relentlessly.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Fragrance expert Aimee Majoros, author of Aimee Is Beauty, told Real Simple that packaging quietly drives a lot of the markup.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
In one scene, the crew drives into Yosemite, where towering granite walls and sweeping vistas leave most visitors speechless.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Feminism was anti-gerontocratic, too, striking blows against old men and their old ways.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
The biggest blows came from Garcia and Starling Marte.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
This design allows for enhanced thermal stability and resistance to physical damage such as punctures.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
-
The minimally invasive technique uses small needle punctures instead of larger surgical incisions, which can help reduce pain and speed up recovery for patients.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
So sure, stuff hits the cutting room floor.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
In a crowded year for chilling debuts, director Adrian Chiarella and actors Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen impress with a fear that hits close to home.—
Jen Yamato,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
-
Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Forget about watching movies at the Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, Il Cinema in Piazza is an outdoor film festival (free by the way, there’s no charge for tickets) which runs during the summer in Rome, Italy, a mixture of films and retrospectives chosen by auteurs.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
-
At entry level, the Hooga HG300 panel runs roughly $149 to $200, and the Solawave wand sits near $169.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punches. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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