as in to emphasize
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
punctuated each and every word of his denial with a pound of his fist on the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 punctuate
The lobby’s long chandelier sparkles above low-rise velvet chairs, and Frank Stella and other large-scale artworks punctuate every corner.
—
Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Collier, who appeared before the court early in the morning UK time, punctuated his evidence by sipping coffee from a china cup, and at one point audibly yawned.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Tafari’s tasty ending, his second goal in this year’s tournament, punctuated an appetizing second half, which saw Son also assist Timothy Tillman prior to Toluca’s equalizer off a classy finish by midfielder Jesús Angulo.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The serious subject matter is punctuated by many very on-the-nose jokes that don't always include enough nuance but, after all, that is kind of the whole point.
—Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Collier, who appeared before the court early in the morning UK time, punctuated his evidence by sipping coffee from a china cup, and at one point audibly yawned.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Tafari’s tasty ending, his second goal in this year’s tournament, punctuated an appetizing second half, which saw Son also assist Timothy Tillman prior to Toluca’s equalizer off a classy finish by midfielder Jesús Angulo.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The serious subject matter is punctuated by many very on-the-nose jokes that don't always include enough nuance but, after all, that is kind of the whole point.
—Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punctuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctuate
Verb
-
Cavender, meanwhile, focused on fiscal discipline, public safety resources and neighborhood quality, while Crow emphasized affordability and community engagement in budget decisions.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
Rather than steering young people exclusively toward high-paying technical fields like computer science, a growing number are emphasizing the long-term value of skills often associated with a humanities or liberal arts education.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
As the Moon moves into Sagittarius, your 2nd House of Resources comes into focus, highlighting money, time, and priorities that need attention.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Prosecutors highlighted allegations of previous behavior of the suspect in the filings, including allegedly admiring the 2018 Woolsey fire, burning a Bible, threatening to burn his sister’s house down and using ChatGPT to generate images of people running from a burning forest.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Pachysandra beds that have been stressed by winter, too much sun, drought, insects, or overcrowding are more susceptible to this fungal disease.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
So, no, not equal opportunity at moments of truth, no matter how constant the movement, how stressed the pace.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
In another video, Hough was seen wearing a bikini featuring a nude triangle top and black bikini bottoms while jumping on a trampoline surrounded be palm trees.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Clark’s most consequential plate appearance actually featured no contact.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctuate. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
