as in body blow
Related Words
Relevance
as in to knock down
Related Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of sucker punch
Sean Emery, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
Floating around London’s Chelsea Flower Show as dusk is about to fall, the air is thick, the herbal scents of salvia and geranium offset by the minty nepeta and the flouncing citrus sucker punch of verbana.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 June 2025
Craig responds with a sucker punch that puts Austin on the ground and brings the night to a screeching halt.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
Yet Victoria feels sucker punched by Piper’s revelation, as if she’s never met her daughter before.
—Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sucker punch
Verb
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
Floating around London’s Chelsea Flower Show as dusk is about to fall, the air is thick, the herbal scents of salvia and geranium offset by the minty nepeta and the flouncing citrus sucker punch of verbana.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 June 2025
Craig responds with a sucker punch that puts Austin on the ground and brings the night to a screeching halt.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
Yet Victoria feels sucker punched by Piper’s revelation, as if she’s never met her daughter before.
—Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sucker punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punch
Noun
-
The tariff hike provoked an immediate outcry in the U.K., with the country's beleaguered steel industry already suffering a number of body blows, including steelworks closures leading to thousands of job losses, and U.S. tariffs of 25% on steel exports to the States.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Most of the industry seems to view the measure as a body blow that will hurt tech companies’ ability to hire the best talent.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Thousands of satellites with interceptors on them to knock down incoming Russian or Chinese missiles, with nuclear bombs on them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The contestants then had to compete in a physically taxing challenge that involved pushing a heavy cart along a bumpy path, stacking sand bags, climbing ladders, knocking discs off poles, and then finally knocking down four bamboo targets.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The at-bats were brief and uneventful, the opposite of the approach that carried Toronto to this stage and felled Snell in Game 1.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That says a lot about the 2025 Red Sox, who were a top offensive team in many metrics, but were also felled by their bats in crucial spots throughout the year and postseason.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While support for the president and contempt for the left has united conservative media for years, Gaza has been driving a wedge between two of the right’s biggest names.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Still smiling, the confident fan shared a few inaudible words with Green's crew member before dancing off stage to the left with a wave towards Green, who remained focused on performing.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
-
Soon, resorts across the region will deck their halls — and cabanas — with holiday menus, twinkling lights and family-friendly festivities that make staying close to home feel like a gift in itself.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Christmas music decks the halls of the Billboard Holiday 100 at the end of every year, but some creepy cuts lurk around the October charts as well.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
State statute also makes clear that a witness doesn’t have a right to have an attorney with them.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Previously, OpenAI alone could decide when AGI had been reached, which was seen as a possible leverage point to end or change Microsoft’s rights under their partnership.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until combined.—
Kathryn Gregory,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
-
In a stand mixer, thoroughly cream together the shortening, margarine, 3 cups of the sugar, and the eggs.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sucker punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punch. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share