as in body blow
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as in to knock down
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sucker punch
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
As members of two California gangs poured out of a Las Vegas boxing match in September 1996, Tupac Shakur, the most famous rapper in the country at the time, sucker punched a rival.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
The Milwaukee County Transit System's $10.9 million deficit landed a sucker punch to county officials in June and resulted in service cuts — but records show the warning signs were there months earlier.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
On June 15, 2019, Ramirez ran up behind a 26-year-old African American grocery store employee and sucker punched him, breaking the employee’s nose and damaging two of his front teeth.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sucker punch
Verb
All that changed a few months before the shooting when Jones sucker punched Branton at a bar during an argument over a girlfriend.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
As members of two California gangs poured out of a Las Vegas boxing match in September 1996, Tupac Shakur, the most famous rapper in the country at the time, sucker punched a rival.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
The Milwaukee County Transit System's $10.9 million deficit landed a sucker punch to county officials in June and resulted in service cuts — but records show the warning signs were there months earlier.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
On June 15, 2019, Ramirez ran up behind a 26-year-old African American grocery store employee and sucker punched him, breaking the employee’s nose and damaging two of his front teeth.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sucker punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punch
Noun
-
Jaxson Hayes delivered the final body blow, throwing down an Eastbay dunk in transition after stealing the ball from Josh Giddey to put the Lakers up by 14 with just under three minutes remaining.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Repeated body blows from hurricanes, pollution, disease, climate change — and a near-knockout punch from a 2023 marine heat wave — has effectively wiped several species off the map and shrunk the reefs that stretch from the Keys throughout South Florida.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 183 shots he’s knocked down beyond the arc are second in the NBA only to Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who’s merely two makes ahead of Knueppel.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
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While Thursday’s game was tight in the first half, TCU maintained a 61-48 lead entering the fourth quarter after Miles knocked down seven 3-pointers in the third.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Democratic socialist Rae Huang is running against the mayor from her political left.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Knight capped the run by being set up to the left of the net.—
John Wawrow,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
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Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Before your boss could match dance steps to the music, his opponent was already kicking him in the groin and throwing rabbit punches.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
2 July 2024
Noun
-
What does the law require of people who wish to become citizens of the United States and gain the right to vote?—
Cal Thomas,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Wiener is also pushing new legislation — called the No Kings Act — that would allow people in California to sue federal agents for violating their rights.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rooms Supremely comfy, with no gimmicky surprises — just proper, old-school amenities, the plumpest beds and (16 types of) pillows, and gleaming bathrooms decked in mottled marble.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
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The people who bought those seats are present at the arena; they’re all crammed in the clubs that look more like a rave with people decked in cowboy attire.—
Mac Engel
February 7,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Is there a swing back to these more traditional media in a way?—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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There are pitches that are better for the swing and miss, and there are pitches for the (bottom) of the zone for groundballs.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sucker punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punch. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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