as in emphasizing
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
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Recent Examples of punctuating
Any chance at further punctuating his standing heading into the offseason vanished when McCarthy motioned over at team trainers following his first completion of the second half.
—
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Drop Heel is a bold accent and is a new signature for Jimmy Choo, punctuating a wide range of their latest styles from pumps and sandals to boots.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025
Even without gimmicks, shooting never feels like an afterthought, with tense firefights punctuating methodical exploration.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Zoeller triumphed in a sudden‑death playoff against Tom Watson and Ed Sneed, punctuating the victory with his trademark flair.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The Broncos won Super Bowl 50, their Orange Rush punctuating one of the most impressive defensive seasons in NFL history.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
On the 2-on-1, Harris kept it for himself and beat Jonas Johansson to the shortside, punctuating the goal by bouncing off the glass over the end boards.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Enormous glowing planets hung overhead; others were installed at ground level, punctuating the venue’s gleaming black floor.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
But the noises punctuating the downtown Fort Worth soundscape these days are causing consternation for De La Torre and his neighbors.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Drop Heel is a bold accent and is a new signature for Jimmy Choo, punctuating a wide range of their latest styles from pumps and sandals to boots.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025
Even without gimmicks, shooting never feels like an afterthought, with tense firefights punctuating methodical exploration.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Zoeller triumphed in a sudden‑death playoff against Tom Watson and Ed Sneed, punctuating the victory with his trademark flair.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
The Broncos won Super Bowl 50, their Orange Rush punctuating one of the most impressive defensive seasons in NFL history.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
On the 2-on-1, Harris kept it for himself and beat Jonas Johansson to the shortside, punctuating the goal by bouncing off the glass over the end boards.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Enormous glowing planets hung overhead; others were installed at ground level, punctuating the venue’s gleaming black floor.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
But the noises punctuating the downtown Fort Worth soundscape these days are causing consternation for De La Torre and his neighbors.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctuating
Verb
-
Middlebrooks echoed those concerns, emphasizing the importance of the services provided by the health system.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Experts say there is no clear pattern behind recent shark encounters, emphasizing that the ocean is a dynamic environment where humans enter the natural habitat of marine predators.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Several new state laws affecting education take effect this month, highlighting the rights of immigrant students and the growth of artificial intelligence in schools.—
Hope Moses,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
This feature from the South Florida Sun Sentinel is part of a series of stories highlighting concerns in Palm Beach County’s Agricultural Reserve, a region where there’s long-standing debate over land preservation and growth.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rising temperatures increase evaporation, further stressing a watershed already under pressure from growth and development.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans just dropped, and there’s one particular nugget in the mix that’s already stressing me out as a mom of four young kids.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Squeeze Burger plans to continue making their burgers, featuring their signature crispy cheese skirt, out of a food truck.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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The cookies are similar to my own mom’s recipe, featuring maraschino cherries in both the cookie dough and pink glaze, but with the addition of almond extract.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctuating. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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