as in punches
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument
a leak caused by several small punctures in the rubber gasket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in pierces
to make a hole or series of holes in
a nail punctured the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stabs
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
I could never puncture my own skin with a hypodermic needle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of punctures
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Stimulates skin renewal through tiny needle punctures, improving texture and firmness.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
There were also punctures on the outer table of the skull, injuries to the teeth and tongue, and a hemorrhage into the chest cavities, according to the filing.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Its extended durability reflects lessons learned from Curiosity, its predecessor, whose wheels accumulated an increasing number of dings and punctures after encountering terrain sharper and more rugged than anticipated.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Video from the scene shows water shooting out from at least six punctures in the fire hose.
—Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
She was treated for what amounted to antler punctures to her chest and legs, officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
The onboard video from the Racing Bulls car reveals Lawson’s split-second oversteer snap correction played a big part in the collision that left both with punctures.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Battery systems based on it are also potentially safer (less prone to thermal runaway, may handle punctures better).
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The narrower design, combined with the several sharp teeth, effectively punctures through tough pepper skin and hard fruits to cut out the core and remove seeds in a matter of seconds.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Quality stability balls use thick, durable materials that are less likely to sustain damage from tears or punctures.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Stimulates skin renewal through tiny needle punctures, improving texture and firmness.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
There were also punctures on the outer table of the skull, injuries to the teeth and tongue, and a hemorrhage into the chest cavities, according to the filing.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Its extended durability reflects lessons learned from Curiosity, its predecessor, whose wheels accumulated an increasing number of dings and punctures after encountering terrain sharper and more rugged than anticipated.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Video from the scene shows water shooting out from at least six punctures in the fire hose.
—Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
She was treated for what amounted to antler punctures to her chest and legs, officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
The onboard video from the Racing Bulls car reveals Lawson’s split-second oversteer snap correction played a big part in the collision that left both with punctures.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Battery systems based on it are also potentially safer (less prone to thermal runaway, may handle punctures better).
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
Joel, a 19‑year veteran, begins pursuing after another officer deploys a spike strip and punctures the Challenger's tires.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The narrower design, combined with the several sharp teeth, effectively punctures through tough pepper skin and hard fruits to cut out the core and remove seeds in a matter of seconds.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctures
Noun
-
The 42-year-old Swanson overmatched Landwehr with a bevy of punches to the head before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight with 54 seconds left in the opening round.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This Midwestern city, which hosted the country’s first-ever rock concert in 1952, punches above its weight in everything from cuisine to the arts to parks, and is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, often cited as one of Ohio’s top tourist attractions.—
Paul J. Heney,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Lower the heat to medium-high and cook, gently stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and a paring knife easily pierces a potato, about 15 minutes.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.—
Therie Hendrey-Seabrook,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But this person who was a friend, who owes her career to me, just stabs me in the back.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following the announcement, the four crew members shared one of their many group hugs on camera, before separating and visibly wiping tears.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Argentina should not waste its tears crying for Rachel Zegler.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Skeleton drills with rags hanging from their shorts.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The public jabs from the president have angered some Catholics, the single largest religious denomination in the United States, according to Pew Research Center.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Donald Trump‘s effort today to praise his new Homeland Security Secretary and defend him from Jimmy Kimmel‘s jabs kind of backfired.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mirroring the 3-star wig cap structure, this wig featured three combs (left-side, right-side, nape), a drawstring, wig band insertion holes, and a 13×4 lace.—
Noel Cymone Walker,
StyleCaster,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The penetration holes indicate that the internal facility is likely bombed out, destroying anything that was inside.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are usually one or two prospects who tower over the rest of the draft, and the whole basketball universe knows the top picks well before draft night.—
Matthew Coller,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Nobody looking for low taxes picks Connecticut as their home.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctures. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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