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 Falcons gain possession with fumble recovery Maason Smith continued a solid game by punching out the football from the grasp of 49ers running back Kaelon Black, a fumble recovered by Gervon Dexter Sr. — AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Rays starter Drew Rasmussen kept that lead strong through five innings, punching out seven. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 On Oregon’s next possession, facing a fourth and one, UCLA stuffed Thomas, once again punching out a fumble. — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 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
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’s not exactly chump change, considering Atlanta was still licking its wounds after the Great Depression.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of licking
Verb
  • At the bottom of the slope, dozens of protective barriers have been installed as a buffer from waves pounding the shoreline.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • When defenses do catch up, McQuillan — like her teammates — have the green light to keep pounding away.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of pounding
Verb
  • President Barack Obama had gathered his advisors to assess intelligence that indicated Osama Bin Laden was hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
    — Keren Yarhi-Milo, Time, 8 Nov. 2026
  • San Diego professes pride in high graduation rates, but this is a chimera hiding the sad truth of how far our educational leaders will go to look good.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers, the analysis found.
    — Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.
    — Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 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
  • In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
  • By far, the easiest way to decongest my pores is whipping out one of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and giving my T-zone a very proper run-through.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • If the idea of doing surgery on a raw turkey gives you a stress rash, ask your butcher to do it—even at the supermarket.
    — Andy Baraghani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Even while every utopia contains the seeds of its opposite, so too does any dystopia provide, even briefly or contingently, intimations of a different way of doing things.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of doing
Verb
  • At least Florida can point to Ole Miss and Texas, but the Gamecocks jumped into the top 25 after beating a very mediocre Oklahoma team.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The Falcons advanced to the second round last year after beating Berlin the first round.
    — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 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 Nov. 2026.

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