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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punches
Verb
-
Is this violence different from the time in her childhood when Irene slaps her?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Wingo and Mosley are both recovering from some nagging injuries suffered during 2025 and haven’t fully participated in offseason team drills.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
-
As the First Platoon commander for Gallatin's Navy JROTC , Nathan trains and drills more than 25 junior cadets during the school day and after hours.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s a two-story vaulted window with a view of the hillside, a keyboard, a sofa, crates for when Fleming drives up with his three rescue dogs (Daysy, Erik, and Luchie, two pit mixes and a miniature poodle), and a vintage Mork & Mindy poster on the wall.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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That silver spot price is what drives the baseline value of silver coins.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While this tends to be the case for any Mercury retrograde, those themes are bolstered by the fact that this Mercury retrograde hits your twelfth house of spirituality.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The star produces x-rays as its stellar wind hits the cooler interstellar medium surrounding the star.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because of the way the director works, emotions tend to be more discussed than felt, although there’s something about Carla’s desperation that pierces through all the soberness.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
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Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Metra Electric line — which runs from downtown Chicago through the South Side and the south suburbs — saw the highest number of suspensions on commuter rail.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
If a supplement sponsor runs a trial that targets clinical endpoints or disease pathways, the FDA may interpret that as drug-like intent, especially once the results are shared publicly.—
Elise Felicione,
STAT,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But then, during the challenge, when Ozzy knocks the key off a post, Coach weasels in and grabs it even after Ozzy has been slapping his limp pole at it for the better part of an hour.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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In another, a woman knocks the MAGA cap off of the one provocateur’s head.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The posts included more than a dozen images that showed bruises and other wounds on her body, holes in the wall and broken cabinets.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Pierce holes in the cake so that the Bourbon Glaze can soak in.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punches. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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