punching out

verb

present participle of punch out
as in licking
to strike repeatedly you should take a course in anger management—you can't go around punching out people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of punching out Danny Nelson starred again from the mound for Leominster in a 4-1 win over Shepherd Hill, allowing just three hits while punching out 10 in a complete game. — Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026 The third frame was his sharpest, with Snell pitching around a two-out error from Kim and punching out Jorge Mateo on a curveball to end his night. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 May 2026 Pérez looked in control almost immediately, striking out Garrett Mitchell to begin the game and punching out five through his first three innings. — Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026 On Azaelea, the iconic 13th hole, McIlroy was again way offline, punching out from the pine straw and hitting a security rope on the ground. — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026 In the bottom of the eighth, former Giant Camilo Doval struck out the side, punching out Ramos, Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey — all swinging. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026 The 24-year-old Sasaki threw a smooth 16 pitches, punching out the right-handed hitting Zavala, and inducing a pair of groundballs to shortstop from the lefty Kim. — Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026 This bumps displacement from the Shiver's 896cc up to 996cc, punching out 105 hp at 9,000 rpm and 66 lb-ft of torque (95 Nm) at 6,500 rpm. — New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025 Two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell tossed six scoreless innings, punching out nine and allowing just one hit. — Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punching out
  1. licking
  2. pounding
  3. hiding
  4. lashing
  5. working over
  6. whipping
  7. doing
  8. beating
Verb
  • Signs paws have already been burned include limping, refusing to walk, licking or chewing feet, darker or damaged pads and visible blisters or redness.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • But the Carolinas have their own ways of making barbecue finger-licking.
    — Amethyst Ganaway, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of licking
Verb
  • Saturday’s match was missing the loud Latin passion and party atmosphere that South American teams’ fans would have brought; the near-constant singing and chanting to a steady pounding drumbeat.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • The drums began pounding; the rain started to beat down even harder.
    — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of pounding
Verb
  • Juro is collecting worthy Jedi to help repopulate the Jedi Order, but evil Sith mercenaries are hiding within his candidates’ ranks.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 13 July 2026
  • Most schemes involved hiding behind computer screens, renting nonexistent apartments or exploiting a grandparent’s love by asking for a grandchild’s fake bail.
    — Ari Maas, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • Under pressure, Fiji conceded 12 penalties — nine by halftime — and a red card to scrumhalf Simione Kuruvoli for lashing out with his boot into the stomach of Ellis Genge.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • In October 2020, Burnham happened to be holding a news conference on live TV, when an aide passed him a phone with news of another lockdown — and the mayor reacted angrily, lashing out at the central government.
    — Lauren Frayer, NPR, 9 July 2026
Definition of lashing
Verb
  • Rybakina’s serve and forehand can take any match out of her opponent’s hands, especially on grass, but the latter shot has misfired of late, and McNally’s changes in rhythm will give the 27-year-old a serious working over.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • There should be no pain or skin reddening during a proper session, and therapists avoid working over active swelling, infection or skin that’s undergone cancer treatment.
    — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of working over
Verb
  • Onstage, Shakira unleashed her inner rock star during the song, working the stage and the mic stand in a purple corset and matching fringe pants and whipping her lengthy curls like a weapon.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Olise kept his intentions hidden to the last, shaping up to cross the ball to the back post before sharply turning his hips and whipping his pass into the goalscorer’s path, breaking two defensive lines along the way.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Where looksmaxxing or sleepmaxxing push you to squeeze more results out of a habit, slowmaxxing asks you to squeeze more meaning out of doing less.
    — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • Crews doing the shoring work have to take precautions because their job is inherently risky, according to structural engineer Matthew Roblez.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Definition of doing
Verb
  • New York investment bank Goldman Sachs and commercial banking giant Bank of America also posted strong second quarter results, both beating Wall Street expectations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • The trailer then cuts to Branagh’s Nikolai rescuing his new American friend and beating up a group of men in a restaurant.
    — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of beating

Browse Nearby Words

punching bags
punching out
punch out
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Cite this Entry

“Punching out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punching%20out. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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