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
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 June 2025
This doesn’t sit well with Mia’s very jealous ex-boyfriend Connor (Aramis Knight, oozing villainy as if to the Karate Kid manor born), who gives Li a black eye with a vicious sucker punch.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 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
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
This doesn’t sit well with Mia’s very jealous ex-boyfriend Connor (Aramis Knight, oozing villainy as if to the Karate Kid manor born), who gives Li a black eye with a vicious sucker punch.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 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
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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
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Ali went forward stiffly, his trunk and hips deeply bruised from Frazier’s body blows.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But regulators knocked down the total penalty to $242,800.—
Anjeanette Damon,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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The footage showed the elephant, which may have weighed 10,000 pounds, knocking down a female tourist into the waters with her trunk, and then briefly pinning her before giving up, the outlet reported.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This was the club felled by Pete Alonso’s shocking home run last autumn.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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However, the miniature accessories didn’t seem to stop a group of humans from felling and butchering the elephant.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This Kevin is an exciting 22-year-old Brazilian left-winger who evolved into the star of Shakhtar’s attack last season.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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And Pérez responded, blooping a ball into left, driving in Kerry Carpenter, as the Tigers took a 3-2 lead.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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One is of Hyland striking an elegant pose in a voluminous purple dress decked in glitter and rhinestones.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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The glamorous tourists, all of whom are decked in Burberry, are played by models including Amelia Gray, Liu Wen, Lucky Blue Smith, Mona Tougaard and Tyson Beckford.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tablet Deals The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ gets a lot right (even more so with this discount).—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
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Employers have both the right and responsibility to protect a respectful, civil culture.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The line is composed almost entirely of rich neutral hues of navy, gray, and cream with occasional pops of color that add interest without compromising elegance.—
Caroline Reilly,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
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In a medium mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and honey until well combined.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sucker punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punch. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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