1
as in slapping
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 drilling
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punching
Cape Verde is not punching above its weight on heart.
—
Sylvana Quader Sinha,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Court records reveal he was subsequently arrested for throwing a rock at people, and later for punching someone else.
—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
He was wheeled into the emergency department by his mother after punching her, again.
—
Ashley Andreou,
STAT,
22 June 2026
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Of course Brunson is well known for punching the clock with family, as his father, Rick Brunson, serves as a Knicks assistant coach.
—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Georgia finished the season with a record of 53-14, won the SEC regular season and tournament titles, along with punching its first ticket back to Omaha for the first time since 2008.
—
Hunter Delauder,
AJC.com,
18 June 2026
He was also cuffed inside his Bronx home in 2024 after punching a family member in the face and choking them.
—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
These days, many would-be retirees are punching clocks in warehouses, toiling as home health aides, or serving customers in retail stores.
—
Ann Larson,
Time,
11 June 2026
Sylvana Quader Sinha,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Court records reveal he was subsequently arrested for throwing a rock at people, and later for punching someone else.
—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
He was wheeled into the emergency department by his mother after punching her, again.
—
Ashley Andreou,
STAT,
22 June 2026
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
—
Gabriel Sama,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Of course Brunson is well known for punching the clock with family, as his father, Rick Brunson, serves as a Knicks assistant coach.
—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Georgia finished the season with a record of 53-14, won the SEC regular season and tournament titles, along with punching its first ticket back to Omaha for the first time since 2008.
—
Hunter Delauder,
AJC.com,
18 June 2026
He was also cuffed inside his Bronx home in 2024 after punching a family member in the face and choking them.
—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
These days, many would-be retirees are punching clocks in warehouses, toiling as home health aides, or serving customers in retail stores.
—
Ann Larson,
Time,
11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punching
Verb
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The refs started handing out technical fouls like free samples, slapping Thomas and Hines-Allen with a double technical.
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Prosecutors dropped all charges against a bouncer for allegedly slapping a bar patron in February.
Verb
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The goal scorer then took an artful first touch before drilling it home.
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SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC on June 12, when the company went public, that SpaceX planned to build pipelines and process its own propellant, and was looking into drilling its own natural gas.
Verb
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Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
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Tire pressure sensors are vital to a vehicle’s health, especially when driving on pothole and junk-laden Atlanta streets.
Verb
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Given the quick-hitting nature of the early morning showers, along with the very isolated nature of afternoon storms, not much rain is expected Friday.
-
After slashing its Scope 3 carbon emissions by 20 percent from a 2019 baseline and hitting its target five years ahead of schedule, the Uniqlo parent company has raised the stakes, aiming for an additional 10 percent reduction by 2030.
Verb
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On the other hand, however, take a step back and the world-building is jaw-dropping; on a big screen, Rogue Trooper is almost overwhelming, and Barnard becomes an almost godlike presence by the end with his piercing white eyes (don’t worry, it’s explained).
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If discovering tiny insect casings or sticky residue, this often indicates those insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts that slowly siphon sap from plants, depleting their ability to feed themselves through photosynthesis.
Verb
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There was some buzz that the Colombia charms were running low or (gasp) extinguished, but Castaneda and Venecia were there for Portugal charms to match their jerseys.
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An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Quezada had toiled 18 hours a day running a bodega in New Jersey.
Verb
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Deputies responded to a report of a driver smacking his car into a guardrail in front of The Bridge Restaurant before driving away, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
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As the match got away from her in the second set and the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd became increasingly hostile, Andreeva fully unraveled, smacking another ball towards the roof and asking members of her box to leave.
Verb
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Indeed, when Orion disappears below the western horizon during spring evenings, the Scorpion is poking his head up in the southeast.
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Kansas City isn't much of a pedestrian city, but now, blue and green specks of fans dot the sidewalks, like wildflowers poking through a crack in the pavement.
Cite this Entry
“Punching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punching. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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