sucker punching

present participle of sucker punch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punching
Verb
  • Last week, Ukraine ran out of Patriot interceptors – one of the few defensive weapons capable of knocking down a ballistic missile – leaving it far more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As a nation, the United States is moving toward knocking down longstanding walls separating religion and government, often ruling in favor of expanding the rights of religious groups.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Because the switching happens thousands of times a second, the device can hold voltage steady, absorb a disturbance or operate in reverse, pushing power backward from batteries toward the grid.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Those cases were part of a broader movement pushing the limits of who is accountable for a mass shooting.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • However, throwing it back over the fence could create another dispute, particularly if doing so amounts to dumping debris on your neighbor’s property.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts are perking up about CoreWeave, even though investors are dumping shares and interest rates are rising in the economy.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In fact, Fielder says, Blaine was literally stabbing his hand, puncturing his own flesh to create the illusion of an illusion.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Neighbors shocked about stabbing Neighbors say Thomas was known to have mental health issues and called the stabbing unfortunate.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • On May 14, 2022, Kirkman drove to the home of Ortega and Amaya before kicking down their door and shooting the couple, Payette County Prosecutor Mike Duke said in court, the Statesman previously reported.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Chun-Li has this crazy fight sequence with three of her Interpol bosses, and then kicking [Kyle Mooney’s] Marvin in the balls was the end of that day.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ukraine has attacked several Russian oil refineries and fuel depots, slashing Russia’s diesel exports by 75%, according to CNBC.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Their efforts focus on dismantling measures supporting transgender populations, particularly by restricting gender-neutral bathroom access and slashing dedicated welfare programs and specialized healthcare services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Seventh inning —That was an at-bat from the last season version of Pages, flailing at a pitch way out of the zone.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The second-best moment came in Ireland to start this season, when UNC held on to beat what now looks like a flailing TCU team in a rematch.
    — David Ubben, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The celebrities sucked up a lot of air, and so the show leaned in, switching to all-celebrity casts.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic’s launch of Claude Duet may be partly defensive, giving Claude Pro and Max users a way to hand off more of their daily tasks without switching to a rival’s assistant.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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