as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of slugging
Ohtani is one of the best hitters in baseball, able to get on base at a high clip while also slugging and making quality contact often.
—
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Despite slugging seven home runs so far, Monday marked their first with a runner on base.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Power surge The Padres are slugging more lately.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
The Diamondbacks were deadline sellers, shipping slugging corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
After Otto Lopez grounded out to third, slugging catcher Agustin Ramirez represented the tying run with one out.
—Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Our family had spent the day knee-deep in Disillusionment Bay, gigging beach frogs and slugging fireweed tea.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
No one is quite sure because Tucker hit well for a stretch after the injury, which was not fully disclosed at the time, and then stopped slugging completely, with no home runs since July 17.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Julio Rodriguez, who had some difficulty navigating center field at the small ballpark, scored on a Jorge Polanco single in the 4th to get the Mariners a run back before the Mets started slugging in the 5th and chased Kirby out of the game.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Despite slugging seven home runs so far, Monday marked their first with a runner on base.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Power surge The Padres are slugging more lately.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
The Diamondbacks were deadline sellers, shipping slugging corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
After Otto Lopez grounded out to third, slugging catcher Agustin Ramirez represented the tying run with one out.
—Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Our family had spent the day knee-deep in Disillusionment Bay, gigging beach frogs and slugging fireweed tea.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
No one is quite sure because Tucker hit well for a stretch after the injury, which was not fully disclosed at the time, and then stopped slugging completely, with no home runs since July 17.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Julio Rodriguez, who had some difficulty navigating center field at the small ballpark, scored on a Jorge Polanco single in the 4th to get the Mariners a run back before the Mets started slugging in the 5th and chased Kirby out of the game.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugging
Verb
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Gausman had retired 17 straight Dodger batters until the seventh inning, when Smith yet again got the best of him, hitting a solo home run to break the stale mate.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
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The singing voices behind KPop Demon Hunters' beloved girl group HUNTR/X will be hitting the stage to perform live in concert for the first time.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sam Khan spent some time inside the North Texas program for a look at how the Mean Green are punching above their weight.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The student who Kamo’s son was initially trying to avoid began punching him.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Known as knockers in England, kobolds also live in caves and mines and make knocking noises directing human miners where to dig.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Another victim came to court, recounting a history of domestic abuse including choking and slapping by the defendant.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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Payton lit into Moss on the sideline, slapping his clipboard, after the cornerback got a bit too handsy with Giants receiver Beaux Collins in the end zone.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The two had a peculiar conversation where Hawkins said Clifton missed smacking her rear end.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
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The first of 12 projects outlined in the book is a literal slapstick, the classic vaudeville tool used to imitate the sound of smacking someone with a stick.—
Michael Roberts,
Outside,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Ford said earlier that his province was spending $75 million to run ads in the United States slamming the impact of tariffs and featuring clips of Reagan.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Maeve is in the hen house with Jayson, banging his gun around and nearly strangling her.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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The audience is put into her shoes, only able to decipher what is going on by listening to the men banging around the house trying to kill her.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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So in the moments after takeoff, Higginbotham always stared at his watch, heart pounding, counting the seconds to a minute.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Bolsa Grande came out pounding the ball, and senior Haley burst up the Matadors sideline for a 68-yard score.—
Zach Cavanagh,
Oc Register,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugging. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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