sucker punching

Definition of sucker punchingnext
present participle of sucker punch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punching
Verb
  • South San Joaquin County Fire Authority However, after knocking down the flames, fire officials say crews found a person dead inside the shop.
    Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Luka Dončić had his way against the Hornets’ defense throughout the night, knocking down five 3-pointers in a 38-point performance.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In early 2026, the car brands leading in advanced AI are primarily split between those pushing the boundaries of full autonomous driving like Tesla, and those integrating sophisticated, safe and intuitive AI into the user experience like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Lawmakers were pushing a measure, similar to those enacted in Australia and Canada, that would have forced tech giants to pay online publishers for the ransacking, er, use, of their journalistic content.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Some universities are now dumping buyout funds at discounts following years of poor returns, while public stocks have outperformed the asset class.
    Phil Serafino, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
  • As a major winter storm began dumping snow across the Baltimore area early Sunday, several hundred employees at Sinai Hospital stayed to keep the hospital running and patients cared for.
    Josh Davis, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • These findings could be consistent with testimony from Peres Magalhães that Banfield manipulated the crime scene after stabbing his wife.
    Lauren del Valle, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
  • After stabbing her, Redd is accused of taking her car and driving off.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Payton says afterward that the argument for kicking a field goal is a sound one.
    Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Verse two increased in anger, with the singer thinking about kicking down his ex’s door.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • According to Reagan Republicans, America’s problems could be solved by cutting federal spending, slashing taxes, and gutting regulations on business.
    Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
  • On the brink of dropping a third straight game — and potentially slashing the team’s hopes of a run in March — Mark Mitchell rescued his Missouri Tigers with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer as the clock expired in Columbia.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But this time there also are tangible targets for the Heat and the rest of the league, with Ja Morant’s contretemps with the Memphis Grizzlies, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s flailing supporting cast with the Milwaukee Bucks and Anthony Davis’ likely parting from the Dallas Mavericks.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
  • This post was originally published on January 23 Bitcoin has limped into 2026, flailing in the wake of a gold price boom that’s catapulted it to an eye-watering $34 trillion market capitalization (triggering predictions of even more gains to come).
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That’s why many nail enthusiasts are switching to at-home mani-pedis — and turning it into a 2026 beauty trend.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The Aztecs had been switching the point guard-center ball screens, which put guards on 6-9 bouncy Nevada forward Elijah Price under the basket.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 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

“Sucker punching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punching. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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