sparring

verb

present participle of spar
as in boxing

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparring
  1. boxing
  2. punching
Verb
  • Perhaps the most noteworthy sports figure to battle Parkinson’s was boxing great Muhammad Ali, who died in 2016.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The pier-to-pier walk in Southern California’s South Bay was supported by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, celebrity TV host Brooke Burke, actor Nate Simon and baseball icons Chris Taylor, Kyle Karros and Jared Karros.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of boxing
Verb
  • The footage also allegedly showed Bomfim punching the baby in the back of his head with a closed fist.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of punching
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.

Browse Nearby Words

sparred
sparring
spars
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Cite this Entry

“Sparring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparring. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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