SLUGS Synonyms: 223 Similar and Opposite Words

slugs 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of slug

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

slugs

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of slug

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 drinks

the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time knocked back another slug of whiskey

Synonyms & Similar Words

slugs

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of slug

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

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 slugs

Noun

Remember to bury the container deep enough to let the slugs in and out. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026 Mulch also helps suppress weeds and dissuades strawberry pests like slugs. — Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026 If your garden has been beset by destructive crawling insects like ants, beetles, and slugs, pesticides often seem like the clear solution. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026 Baking soda can help prevent powdery mildew, kill weeds, repel slugs, and clean produce, but must be used sparingly. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026 Those attract tiny insects, which attract larger insects, which draw slugs, snails, and other wildlife. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026 There are over 2,000 species of terrestrial and marine slugs (including nudibranchs, sea hares, and the out-of-this-world Elysia chlorotica). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026 The effect has been especially damaging on corals, oysters, and free-swimming snails and slugs. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 July 2026

Verb

Consider using an organic, commercial product made with any of these plants, or grow these herbs around the perimeter of your garden or next to crops and flowers that slugs frequently feed. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026 The Texas first baseman slugs her team-high 12th homer of the year over the left-field fence as the Longhorns regain the lead. — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026 Padilla and Hernandez toss out different accents – German (in which Storrie slugs a beer), Cajun, French, Shrek, Na’vi — even Shakespeare. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026 Machado slugs 169 points higher in wins. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugs

Noun

No punches were thrown, and Oruwariye and Knight were separated quickly.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
During Monday’s press conference, Bessent sought to tamp down on criticism that the administration was pulling its punches.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of punches

Noun

Scientists rescued 34 endangered humped tree snails from Guam by collecting them in empty peanut butter jars ahead of a powerful typhoon.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
She and her hundreds of pet snails are visited by a young man named Edward Ridgeway (Alden Ehrenreich) who has been sent by her American publisher to convince her to sign a contract to write one more Ripley novel.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of snails

Noun

Zebra striping is the practice of alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout a night out, creating a pattern that mirrors the black and white stripes on a zebra.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
But a key question has been how profoundly the bans would affect public health, with some economists arguing that people would just use other funds to buy Coke and other sugary drinks instead.

— Sarah Todd, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drinks

Noun

Iran still has enough drones and missiles to fire at vessels transiting the vital energy waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows, effectively controlling much of the traffic in the strait.

— Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Also on Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces downed or neutralized almost 500 Ukrainian drones launched overnight.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of drones

Verb

When a headline knocks a stock down, the useful question is whether anything inside the business moved.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Brink is no stranger to the injury bug, as this is just the latest in a series of knocks the Sparks center has taken recently.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026