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
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Recent Examples of punching
While they were lined up, members put on boxing gloves and took turns punching the pledges four times in the chest, according to the petition.
—
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Jahmai Jones’ two-run single in the top of the fifth proved the difference, punching Detroit’s ticket to the playoffs and ensuring the Tigers would go into Game 162 with a chance to claw back the AL Central title from the insurgent Cleveland Guardians on the final day of the regular season.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
The man killed Tuesday in a Douglas County road rage shooting had exited his car and was reaching into the suspect’s vehicle, allegedly punching him, when he was shot, according to court records.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
He was also listed as a suspect in an incident three days earlier, after allegedly punching a man in the head during an argument about speeding in a Walgreen’s parking lot, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Basque cinema is punching above its weight at San Sebastián, with 75% of Spanish competition titles fully or partially Basque, underscoring how regional industries, once seen as peripheral, are increasingly shaping Spain’s national film landscape.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
The video, which bears a watermark suggesting it was livestreamed on the video platform Kick, showed Jackson straddling Smith before repeatedly punching him in the face and the side of his head, even when Smith was lying motionless.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Quick Marriage Story reference with straight Yang punching a hole in the wall.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
The morning of the wedding, Jeremiah and Conrad get into a fight over Belly, which culminates in Jeremiah punching his brother.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Jahmai Jones’ two-run single in the top of the fifth proved the difference, punching Detroit’s ticket to the playoffs and ensuring the Tigers would go into Game 162 with a chance to claw back the AL Central title from the insurgent Cleveland Guardians on the final day of the regular season.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
The man killed Tuesday in a Douglas County road rage shooting had exited his car and was reaching into the suspect’s vehicle, allegedly punching him, when he was shot, according to court records.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
He was also listed as a suspect in an incident three days earlier, after allegedly punching a man in the head during an argument about speeding in a Walgreen’s parking lot, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Basque cinema is punching above its weight at San Sebastián, with 75% of Spanish competition titles fully or partially Basque, underscoring how regional industries, once seen as peripheral, are increasingly shaping Spain’s national film landscape.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
The video, which bears a watermark suggesting it was livestreamed on the video platform Kick, showed Jackson straddling Smith before repeatedly punching him in the face and the side of his head, even when Smith was lying motionless.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Quick Marriage Story reference with straight Yang punching a hole in the wall.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
The morning of the wedding, Jeremiah and Conrad get into a fight over Belly, which culminates in Jeremiah punching his brother.
—Alexandra Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punching
Verb
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By slapping a $100,000 filing fee on H=1B visas, the White House has declared the days of cheap labor pipelines and visa abuse officially over.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
On the knee-to-knee collision between each team’s superstar, Collier badly rolled her left ankle and was lying on the floor and slapping the court with her hand as Thomas made her drive.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While cracks and surface defects caused by traffic and environmental stress are easy to spot, detecting micro-cracks and damage in the lower layers still requires drilling and extracting core samples.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued that the administration is making drilling cheaper by cutting red tape.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
In bodycam footage provided by Ory, the gold truck's driver said the woman driving the car behind him caused the wreck after pulling into the other lane to avoid colliding with the back of the truck.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The Dodgers are one of the better teams in baseball at hitting changeups from lefties like Sánchez.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The bone was found to be raw, unworked, except for a single hole piercing its entire length.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
-
With his head resting on his hand, his piercing eyes stared right at the pain coming toward him.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She was appointed solicitor general in 2023 by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is running for governor.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’Andre Swift in the 2017 backfield, and 2018 with Swift and Elijah Holyfield both running for 1,000 yards.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Really, there’s only one character onstage who commands an audience’s attention, and that’s Hines’ gum-smacking sister-in-law, who turns from antagonist to supporter.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
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Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle for most home runs in one season for a switch hitter after smacking his 54th dinger yesterday.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first meetup drew dozens of participants poking at pudding cups together.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The underground pop of the 2010s used to get so excited about being online, using shrinky-dink artifice to delight in poking fun at a culture that could feel shallow and strange but also organic and endlessly renewable.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punching. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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