Thesaurus results for SLUGGING

slugging

verb

present participle of slug

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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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 slugging Friday marked their first loss when slugging that many homers since June 25, 2025, also against the Mariners. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 García, who led the National League in slugging before getting traded, now has 25 homers on the season. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026 Mancini returned in 2021 for the Orioles, slugging 21 homers that season, participating in the Home Run Derby and winning the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Guerrero, who left Friday’s game to be tested for a concussion, hasn’t started slugging. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 As the White Sox were slugging their way to a 22-1 victory over the Royals on Friday night, former player Ron Kittle was getting married in a ballpark suite with Chicago chairman Jerry Reinsdorf officiating. — ABC News, 27 June 2026 Rice is slugging almost 100 points higher than Kurtz, though the A’s slugger’s ability to get on base has their OPS numbers in a comparable range. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026 There wasn’t much concern about the hard-slugging right fielder’s condition, however. — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026 The bottom portion of the UCLA lineup picked up the slack, slugging two homers among the six hits and four RBIs from the 6-9 spots. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugging

Verb

Lennar is down 38% since hitting a high in September of last year.

— Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
The rooftop at ‘Alohilani Resort is part of the property’s fitness hub, and guests can gaze out at Waikiki Beach and feel the Pacific Ocean breeze while practicing their hitting in the batting cages.

— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

In the film, ex-girlfriend Jill Jones reportedly accused Prince of repeatedly punching her in 1984.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
One recent City Series game at Wrigley also had three arrests and included viral brawl that many Cubs fans blamed on Sox fans, though video showed a guy in a Cubs jersey was punching a guy in a Cubs jersey as well.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

Verb

And the defense module can neutralize them via electronics-frying HPM emissions, knocking satellites out without creating a cloud of space debris.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
For Lynn Parsons, knocking on a stranger’s door once made the difference between getting home and watching her car get towed away.

— Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Already, Skubal’s joining in on pregame handshake lines and slapping the dugout railing in time to Roki Sasaki’s warm-up music.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Support for Infantino Eto’o is not the only person banging the drum for Infantino in what’s become an increasingly fractured landscape.

— Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
These were people who would insist that their American passenger ride in the cab of a trade truck rather than stand in the open back with 20 passengers banging into each other and a couple of goats for hours.

— Ethan Gologor, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of banging

Verb

Visually, the entire set was stunning, with fast cuts of Nancy Whang pounding on her keyboard, Al Doyle whirring his synthesizer, and Murphy shouting into his microphone, wrapped around his arm.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Keeping a potty close by will give little ones a better chance of reaching it on time when nature has given up on calling and is pounding down the door.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026