1
as in piercing
to make a hole or series of holes in
a nail punctured the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stabbing
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
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Recent Examples of puncturing
The tree was left in pieces, with one portion puncturing the roof of the school and another crushing a fence.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Testing is also challenging, as finding a leak requires puncturing the spinal canal, which can create new leaks.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Pinjar thus starts out with Hamida’s disgust, puncturing notions of maternal affection revered in mainstream South Asian (and other) narratives.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum.
—Daniele Hamamdjian, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025
Wi-Fi 7's puncturing capability is designed to isolate the interference, enabling devices to use the remainder of the channel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Testing is also challenging, as finding a leak requires puncturing the spinal canal, which can create new leaks.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Pinjar thus starts out with Hamida’s disgust, puncturing notions of maternal affection revered in mainstream South Asian (and other) narratives.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum.
—Daniele Hamamdjian, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025
Wi-Fi 7's puncturing capability is designed to isolate the interference, enabling devices to use the remainder of the channel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puncturing
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
With blond horizontal stripes dyed in her dark brown hair, bold black eyeliner and the smiley lip piercing, Liu has cut an alternative path to the top of a sport that long valued a specific kind of femininity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jones, of Joliet, said his testimony helped convict Joseph Czuba, a Plainfield landlord who was found guilty last year in the stabbing death of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, a Palestinian American boy who was targeted because of his race and religion.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Three of the stabbing victims were dead at the scene and another died while being taken to a hospital.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Scientists still debate what started that eruption, and whether it was triggered by drilling for natural gas, or by an earthquake.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Offshore drilling infrastructure and industrial activity threatens access and, with it, our national security and the steady economic engine these bases provide to local communities.—
Shane Weddle,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mourinho shot off down the touchline, fingers jabbing the air, hugging a ballboy in jubilation.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Though none of the celebrity moms in question have publicly spoken about the drama, earlier this week, Koma, whom has also produced several of Duff's songs in the past, shared a meme to his Instagram Story jabbing Tisdale French's piece in The Cut.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But in the background, financial markets keep punching above their weight.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Newhuis is accused of later returning and assaulting the manager by punching him multiple times, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, if money is no object, picking a luxury SUV could be surprisingly challenging.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Use Liquid Herbicide When picking a post-emergent herbicide, Cuoco recommends looking for a liquid form that can be sprayed directly onto problem areas.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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It’s also built specifically for down jackets to keep the fill from poking through.—
Maggie Slepian,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Coogan was poking fun at tech companies’ impulse to name themselves after myths and parables, even when those myths and cultural artifacts have negative associations.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead of skittering off, the hot droplets start sticking and seeping into the surface texture, and leave wet patches behind.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
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These additions can help keep food from sticking and make cleanup a lot easier.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puncturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puncturing. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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