slugfest

noun

Definition of slugfestnext
as in fisticuffs

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 slugfest But unlike the Wimbledon example, there’s no final score the robots can reach to end their slugfest. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 23 July 2025 Rather than pick up where Man of Steel left off, this sequel rewinds to Superman’s battle with Zod, revealing that none other than Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) was caught up in the damage of the Kryptonian slugfest. — Will Harris, EW.com, 11 July 2025 Can the Cubs ride the momentum from their Saturday slugfest? — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025 The game was a defensive slugfest, particularly in the second half. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slugfest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugfest
  1. fistfight
  2. blows
  3. duel
  4. melee
  5. punch-up
  6. punch-out
  7. confrontation
  8. brawl
Noun
  • Later, Enola also participates in a horseback chase and violent fistfight with the female villain.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • Its satirical video, depicting politicians descending into an all-out fistfight, proved especially prescient during the fevered atmosphere of the 2016 election cycle.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 17 June 2026
Definition of fistfight
Noun
  • In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
  • One way to look at the Washington Nationals’ kick-in-the-groin sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees — three leads in the eighth inning, three dizzying losses — is that none of the previous blows this team has taken have permanently felled it.
    — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of blows
Noun
  • While Sunday afternoon’s anticipated pitching duel turned into a laugher of a loss for the Yankees, the day’s second game starved them and the Dodgers for offense despite both teams throwing a bullpen game.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
  • Calm on the ball, Rodri is a ferocious monster off it, hoovering up second balls with his sharp anticipation and brushing opponents aside in duels with his imposing physicality.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of duel
Noun
  • Paredes, who had already received a yellow card in the game, was booked again for his part in the melee and was shown a red card.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • To his credit, Garcia didn’t react, but the incident led to another melee.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of melee
Noun
  • About deluded coaches and philandering teammates and practice-field punch-ups.
    — Leander Schaerlaeckens June 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • Among them are Neeson as a Great Gatsby-esque type who puts Declan in the hospital after a punch-up and Cleese as a priest who also doubles as the Grim Reaper.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 May 2026
Definition of punch-up
Noun
  • Most people aren’t focused on Advent calendars right now — those chocolates hidden under perforated punch-outs to celebrate each day of the season.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
  • During the portion of Thursday’s practice open to reporters, the Patriots practiced punch-out drills directly in front of reporters.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
Definition of punch-out
Noun
  • The union’s policy, as conveyed to The Athletic, is not to create any apparel that features a confrontation between members of the union.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Backstage, a chaotic confrontation over a briefcase between Judgment Day, Danhausen, and Joe Hendry led to Oba Femi's dominant victory over JD McDonagh.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of confrontation
Noun
  • My first match with Taylor was as his assistant on a tempestuous game between Leicester City and Watford in 2007 that produced 11 yellow cards and a mass brawl.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Instead, some of its players turned the postgame handshakes into a brawl, with Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes drawing a red card for grabbing Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat and shoving him to the turf.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of brawl

Browse Nearby Words

slug (down)
slugfest
slugfests
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slugfest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugfest. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All