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
  • One act featured two young women sitting on the stage and licking orange Popsicles (yes, that was the whole act).
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of licking
Verb
  • Still, the stock is a table-pounding buy for analysts led by McShane.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • On offense, that means pounding the rock with a stout run game and letting that set up the passing attack.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of pounding
Verb
  • However, researchers found that more than 15,000 of those edits had been made by AI agents that used the pages to share various tactics and tips for cheating, hacking, and hiding their behavior from human monitors.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • On rainy days when the sun is hiding and the temperatures are cool, consider these your emotional support pants.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • This week’s meeting of G20 finance ministers underscored rising global trade tensions, with several countries, including the US, lashing out at China.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Odysseus ended up lashing himself to the mast and ordering his crew to plug their ears with wax.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 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
  • Two months later, the couple went Instagram official, as the SKIMS founder was featured in a video which showed the F1 driver whipping around in his Ferrari F40 at the Daikoku Parking Area in Tokyo, Japan.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Mercedes removed Willow’s cat, but Willow answered by whipping Mercedes with the AEW Women’s World Championship belt.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Subsense, which has raised $27 million in funding, is currently doing preclinical work, experimenting with various elements of the technology and conducting some experiments on mice.
    — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Now, the two men — coach and GM — are in the process of doing exactly as each promised when they were hired.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of doing
Verb
  • Rashford enticed the Ukrainian, then drove past him on the outside, further beating Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the area, forcing James Tarkowski to slide in to concede a corner.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Both teams are coming off dominant albeit unremarkable opening games after beating FCS opponents at home.
    — PJ Green September 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of beating

Browse Nearby Words

punching bags
punching out
punch out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Punching out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punching%20out. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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