sparred

Definition of sparrednext
past tense of spar
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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparred
Verb
  • Highlighted in bright red text, and boxed by a red outline, was a game plan for attacking one of Becerra’s top rivals in the California governor’s race, billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental activist Tom Steyer.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • Even if the Nuggets had somehow found their courage and won this series, the Spurs would have boxed their ears.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The last time Philadelphia hosted the Home Run Derby was 1996, when Barry Bonds slugged 17 homers at Veterans Stadium.
    Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Dansby Swanson slugged his fourth home run to tie for the team lead.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Pistons punched back with a 20-5 run as the Magic at one point missed 13 straight shots from the floor.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The would-be robbery victim did not need medical attention after being punched.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Dispatches Evening Read Cubans’ Despair By Gisela Salim-Peyer Cubans for decades have been buffeted by great powers, repressed by their own government, crushed by economic crises, and paraded as the victims of a succession of sanctions imposed by the White House.
    David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The struggling low-cost airline has filed for bankruptcy protection twice, but has been buffeted by surging fuel costs and tepid customer demand for its products, even as other airlines that have skewed to more premium and business travels have seen their shares — and profits — surge.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Carson Richter hit a grand slam for Newbury Park.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
  • Austin Hays then hit a grounder to third baseman Manny Machado.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • A lot of that had to do with Jackson, who bashed two home runs, including a grand slam in the victory.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers bashed open the front door of Thao’s East Side home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him outside half-dressed in freezing conditions.
    Mark Vancleave, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Wait, goaltender Igor Shesterkin — who brawled with New Jersey’s Jacob Markström last week — has boxing coaches?
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
  • On April 3, after UCLA defeated University of Texas in the Final Four, Close apologized to the fans in an ESPN interview about how the two teams brawled over each point.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The weekend events are designed to showcase the street's new makeover and draw customers back to businesses that were battered by years of construction, steering away clientele.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 2 May 2026
  • Believing sanctions relief was not a realistic outcome after the agreement’s failure, Iran – though battered by losing access to the global financial system – has found increasingly creative workarounds.
    Charmaine N. Willis, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Sparred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparred. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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