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
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Founded in 1777, Lexington is home to both Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and the presence of the universities no doubt plays a part in a cultural richness that punches above its weight class for a tiny town of just 7,000 people.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Russia will not stop unless someone bigger and tougher than them punches him in the nose.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
But the semifinals starting at Las Vegas definitely tips the scales toward Joe Gibbs Racing, as this is a track where Hamlin, Bell and Briscoe are well suited to get a win that punches one of their tickets to the title finale.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
For its relatively small footprint, Hôtel Place d'Armes punches far above its weight from a culinary POV, with a fabulous on-site brasserie, a trendy sushi bar, and a panoramic roof terrace (open seasonally) that’s widely considered one of the city’s best spots for outdoor drinks with a view.
—Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
What to do in Glasgow Glasgow’s reputation as Scotland’s gritty second city—compared to the regal, castle-on-a-hill status of Edinburgh, the country’s capital—has been changing lately, thanks to sprawling parks, boundary-pushing museums, and a dining scene that punches far above its weight.
—Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
The winner punches their ticket to the Final 2.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
No punches were thrown, and order was quickly restored, but the mere sight of a standoff is rare in any playoff game, much less Game 7 of the World Series.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The first opportunity the home crowd had to roar came four minutes into the middle frame, when Wild defenseman Jake Middleton exchanged punches with Jets blueliner Luke Schenn.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Despite its 2-5 record, Cleveland can throw some punches through one of the fiercest defensive lines in football.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Leo pulls no punches as Lizzo matches her intensity in a whisper.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Silva was projected to win the fight by a large margin when Weidman came in with a flurry of punches, sending him to the canvas.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The humanoid also nails a couple of spins and launches a few punches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Vote of confidence Heweliusz represents a huge vote of confidence from Netflix in CEE as the streamer celebrates its decade in a region that punches above its weight and has a bustling local entertainment sector.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Founded in 1777, Lexington is home to both Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and the presence of the universities no doubt plays a part in a cultural richness that punches above its weight class for a tiny town of just 7,000 people.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Russia will not stop unless someone bigger and tougher than them punches him in the nose.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
But the semifinals starting at Las Vegas definitely tips the scales toward Joe Gibbs Racing, as this is a track where Hamlin, Bell and Briscoe are well suited to get a win that punches one of their tickets to the title finale.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
For its relatively small footprint, Hôtel Place d'Armes punches far above its weight from a culinary POV, with a fabulous on-site brasserie, a trendy sushi bar, and a panoramic roof terrace (open seasonally) that’s widely considered one of the city’s best spots for outdoor drinks with a view.
—Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
What to do in Glasgow Glasgow’s reputation as Scotland’s gritty second city—compared to the regal, castle-on-a-hill status of Edinburgh, the country’s capital—has been changing lately, thanks to sprawling parks, boundary-pushing museums, and a dining scene that punches far above its weight.
—Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
The winner punches their ticket to the Final 2.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
The poem is littered with gut punches that would destroy me as a parent; Lee sees the poem’s beauty and appears to feel appropriate shame.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
No punches were thrown, and order was quickly restored, but the mere sight of a standoff is rare in any playoff game, much less Game 7 of the World Series.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The first opportunity the home crowd had to roar came four minutes into the middle frame, when Wild defenseman Jake Middleton exchanged punches with Jets blueliner Luke Schenn.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Despite its 2-5 record, Cleveland can throw some punches through one of the fiercest defensive lines in football.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Leo pulls no punches as Lizzo matches her intensity in a whisper.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Silva was projected to win the fight by a large margin when Weidman came in with a flurry of punches, sending him to the canvas.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The humanoid also nails a couple of spins and launches a few punches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punches
Verb
-
The tarp slaps the frame of the truck’s roof.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The state also limited preseason contact drills to six hours total and banned spring and summer practices.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
-
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Can Green Bay finish drives with touchdowns without Kraft, who has hauled in six of Love's 13 TD passes this year?—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
If search reliability drives a beat, update evergreen explainers and refine the internal links that help readers stay oriented.—
Malana VanTyler,
Ascend Agency,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So many conversations about so many things and for some reason that’s what hits home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse hits her desk, Diane’s questions about the buyer’s identity lead to what could be the story of a lifetime.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Her infectious laugh regularly pierces the newsroom noise.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
-
But the show's greatest asset is its stars, whose endearing real-life friendship pierces through the play’s inherent despair.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Daily baguette runs to the local bakery – an errand that Anract says used to be as automatic and ritualistic as brushing teeth – have become less frequent.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Admission is $8 per person and gets you access to the International Space Hall of Fame and the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium, which runs daily shows and live presentations.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However, when a wealthy telecommunications CEO knocks on their door and reveals his plans to regain the public’s trust in supers, the Parrs are all in.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Latin social dance is a place where people leave their worries at the door, but in Chicago, fear over immigration crackdowns knocks anyway.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With key free agents and holes opening across the roster, the Jays will have to find the same formula that nearly lifted them to a title.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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And the rise of insurance money in investing has created patient capital that in many cases fits those money holes better than blunter instruments.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punches. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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