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
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Recent Examples of slugging
His drinking appears to have led to Laura secretly slugging down alcohol as a child.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
He’s displayed + power, slugging 44 HR in just 118 games while walking more than striking out.
—Teddy Cahill, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The offense — albeit playing half its games in a Triple-A park — ranked fifth in the majors in slugging, eighth in OPS and 12th in runs scored.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2026
But are the Red Sox a more complete team with a lineup that no longer features the slugging Rafael Devers, Bregman the ‘baseball rat,’ as Cora affectionately calls him, and southpaw slayer Rob Refsnyder?
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2026
He was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Houston in December 2024 that moved slugging prospect Cam Smith to the Astros.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Murakami, 26 in February, has been the top power hitter in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball the last several years, and that includes slugging 22 home runs in 56 games around elbow surgery and an oblique strain in 2025.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
After slugging three homers with 12 RBI during the Dodgers’ World Series run last year, Hernández took Max Scherzer deep in the bottom of the second inning tonight, which gives him five home runs during this year’s playoff run.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
After a scoreless sixth inning from both teams, the Dodgers came alive in the seventh as All-Star catcher Will Smith launched a solo home run, and slugging third baseman Max Muncy hit a solo shot of his own.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
He’s displayed + power, slugging 44 HR in just 118 games while walking more than striking out.
—Teddy Cahill, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The offense — albeit playing half its games in a Triple-A park — ranked fifth in the majors in slugging, eighth in OPS and 12th in runs scored.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2026
But are the Red Sox a more complete team with a lineup that no longer features the slugging Rafael Devers, Bregman the ‘baseball rat,’ as Cora affectionately calls him, and southpaw slayer Rob Refsnyder?
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2026
He was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Houston in December 2024 that moved slugging prospect Cam Smith to the Astros.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Murakami, 26 in February, has been the top power hitter in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball the last several years, and that includes slugging 22 home runs in 56 games around elbow surgery and an oblique strain in 2025.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
After slugging three homers with 12 RBI during the Dodgers’ World Series run last year, Hernández took Max Scherzer deep in the bottom of the second inning tonight, which gives him five home runs during this year’s playoff run.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
After a scoreless sixth inning from both teams, the Dodgers came alive in the seventh as All-Star catcher Will Smith launched a solo home run, and slugging third baseman Max Muncy hit a solo shot of his own.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugging
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Bench coach Jeff Pickler, third base coach Andy Gonzalez, first base coach Doug Bernier, assistant hitting coach Jordan Pacheco and Schaeffer all took players aside to point out the nuances of the contact play.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Additionally, the actor is accused of assaulting another man by punching him in the nose, police say.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The police statement claims that upon being released, LaBeouf struck the same man with his fists before allegedly punching another man in the nose.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai and Glenn's teammate Alysa Liu followed and overtook her score, knocking her off the podium.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
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In the hunt for their own goal, the Americans kept knocking on the door, but couldn’t break through.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ultimately, in Europe, giving the green light will be up to the EU’s antitrust chief, Teresa Ribeira, who has been slapping hefty fines lately on Google and Elon Musk’s X for breaching European Union rules.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
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Vacuum The Cushions For dusty sofas, start by taking the cushions outside and slapping them to release debris and dust.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shepard attached the head of a 6-iron golf club to his sample collecting tool and was recorded smacking a couple golf balls across the lunar landscape.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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In his defense, Barnett took the stand to say there was no murder plot and that Thomas extorted him for the money using physical violence – knocking out his teeth, injured his left shoulder, and smacking his private parts.—
Sydney Pereira,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Allred has been criticized in some circles for publicly slamming Talarico.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
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The Motion Picture Association and, the Human Artistry Campaign issued statements last week slamming ByteDance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And Peters has been banging his head on his desk trying to get Congress to use it.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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Agitators were seen blowing whistles, banging pots and pans, shaking metal barricades and striking the rails set up outside the property.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On the northern end of California’s Central Coast, the region’s rolling hills and sunny beaches give way to misty bays and cypress groves, pounding turquoise surf and steep, plunging cliffs.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
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The cast of the heart-pounding story also features Stephen Tobolowsky, Frances Bay, and Peter Friedman.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugging. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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