as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
one well aimed slug on the head knocked him out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in snails
a lazy person
he's always a slug in the morning, which is why he prefers to sleep late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hits
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slugs
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025
The good news is that researchers at Oregon State University2 have found that coffee is effective in getting rid of slugs.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Large windows connect the typesetter’s office to the workshop below, where men are lined up in rows, throwing lead slugs of type into trays.
—Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
Although pumpkins that have started to turn color can ripen off the vine, leaving them in the garden exposes them to slugs, rot, or damage from a hard freeze.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
These forests support wildlife like Roosevelt elk and the occasional black bear, although bright yellow banana slugs are most closely associated with the towering trees.
—AFAR Media, 28 Oct. 2025
Watch your step for banana slugs.
—Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025
Gastropods are a class of mollusks that include snails, slugs and whelks.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Later, a pair of slugs that help the seed cross an arid landscape, like camels in the desert, glisten vividly.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025
The good news is that researchers at Oregon State University2 have found that coffee is effective in getting rid of slugs.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Large windows connect the typesetter’s office to the workshop below, where men are lined up in rows, throwing lead slugs of type into trays.
—Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
Although pumpkins that have started to turn color can ripen off the vine, leaving them in the garden exposes them to slugs, rot, or damage from a hard freeze.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
These forests support wildlife like Roosevelt elk and the occasional black bear, although bright yellow banana slugs are most closely associated with the towering trees.
—AFAR Media, 28 Oct. 2025
Watch your step for banana slugs.
—Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025
Gastropods are a class of mollusks that include snails, slugs and whelks.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
Machado slugs 169 points higher in wins.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugs
Verb
-
This midsize option from Bagsmart hits the sweet spot with plenty of interior and exterior pockets to keep essentials organized and accessible.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
15 Jan. 2026
-
And that, in turn, is pushing more credit card and loan accounts into delinquency, forcing borrowers to try and find the right way to respond after a collection notice appears or a new account hits their credit file.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coley punches back, and Sonya manages to pull her off of him.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 Dec. 2025
-
Red Masks hold Fiona back Fiona as Constance punches her multiple times.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Burrell pounds his way down to the four-yard line.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The man simply pounds the zone.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Three weeks later, in early October, Kim knocks on Helen’s door.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
One of the biggest knocks on him is his lack of experience.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The carry handles each have a magnetic piece that then clips together to form a single bar to grasp.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway revealed that the moment Ike slaps Jackie came across so emotional and raw because the stunt went wrong.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Squad' rep's felon husband smacks phone from reporter 3.—
,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Just as this monster is about to take out the entire team on the Abyss, a giant boulder flies through the air and smacks him in the face.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The sheep alien bangs its head on the glass in the nextdoor cell, startling Tootles, who falls over and spills the tray.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugs. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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