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 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 Happ, though, finished the last two games of the series strong, slugging home runs on back-to-back days and finishing with five hits — two home runs, one double and three RBIs — in that stretch. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 9 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

Duran started the year hitting third and now bats seventh or eighth, and his hold on everyday playing time might have been saved by Masataka Yoshida’s injury — at least until Roman Anthony’s return.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Digging for compliments Shares in mining giant BHP are trading higher in Australia, hitting a two-month high, after the company topped earnings expectations and unveiled plans to pay its highest dividend in four years.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

Alaves' Ángel Pérez was reprimanded by coach Quique Sánchez Flores after being substituted and punching the bench several times.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Speaking to reporters before heading out on a campaign bus tour in Maine, Collins was asked about recent reports of a 1988 incident in which Jackson faced misdemeanor charges for punching an unnamed man.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

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

The film also depicts Gorbachev as something of a drama queen during the meetings, slamming the table and raising his voice.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
The active tropics comes on the 22nd anniversary of Hurricane Charley slamming into Florida, the beginning of one of the worst hurricane years in the state’s history.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

Where grass grows right up to a tree’s trunk, the lawnmower will inevitably follow, banging and chipping the bark or scalping bark off roots that are exposed above the soil.

— Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
In several municipalities, particularly in Havana, residents staged neighborhood protests after blackouts lasting more than 48 hours, banging pots and pans and burning garbage piled up on street corners.

— Andrea Rodriguez, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of banging

Verb

Then, in the meditation hall, our cheery host suddenly turned serious and began pounding on a 350-year-old drum from a samurai castle used for marking the beginning of chores.

— Pico Iyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026
Lala is no longer a hurricane, but the tropical storm is drenching Hawaii with sideways rain, hurricane-force gusts and pounding surf, flooding rivers and triggering mudslides.

— Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026