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
  • That means no tasting cookie dough made with raw eggs, no licking brownie batter off the beaters, and no homemade Caesar dressing made with uncooked yolks.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 23 July 2026
  • Other signs of stress included head shaking, licking its lips, yawning, or scratching behind the ears.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
Definition of licking
Verb
  • For much of the ’80s, Teresa Taylor (aka Teresa Nervosa) joined up as a second drummer, pounding tribal beats beside Coffey, and became a Gen-X icon after appearing in the 1990 film Slacker.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026
  • After pounding his drive down the final fairway, Fox hit his approach to just inside 12 feet and then dripped his birdie putt into the edge of the cup to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
    — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
Definition of pounding
Verb
  • Little does Sinon know, Odysseus and his men are hiding inside the horse to launch a sneak attack on Troy.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • The philosopher Michael Sandel (Rhodes Scholar, Harvard professor) accuses elites of hiding their privilege behind spurious claims of merit.
    — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • Relentless rains were lashing Texas Hill Country on Thursday, with flash flood emergencies reported across the region, rescues ongoing and waters rising to deadly levels.
    — Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • Julian Quinones — Mexico/Al Qadsiah (-7) Quinones took his World Cup goal tally to four by lashing a loose ball into the roof of the net against England.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 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
  • The attorney questioned whether a person would be able to smell alcohol at the same time that wind generated by 18-wheelers and other vehicles whipping by on the highway was blowing, as was occurring during the officer’s time with Hampton.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • Zeus and Poseidon are at it again—one hurling thunderbolts, the other whipping the sea into a frenzy.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Fury is doing his own tune-up work, with his bout against Mariusz Wach landing the night before this card.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • But doing so would cost multiples of the original sale price.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of doing
Verb
  • Despite a middling 50-51 record, the Padres are within two games of the National League’s final wild-card spot after beating the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Tuesday.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The beating sun, and therefore sweaty, sunburned skin, demands a looser fit that’s light-as-air, and this popover style is perfect to throw on and go.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 21 July 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 25 Jul. 2026.

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