sucker punching

Definition of sucker punchingnext
present participle of sucker punch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punching
Verb
  • Well, the two-time Eastern Conference rookie of the month is one of only two players in the NBA this season who’s averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game while knocking down at least 42% from 3-point range.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • 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
  • Home prices and mortgage rates have soared over the past several years, pushing home ownership out of reach for many Americans.
    Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The California Highway Patrol said the driver was dumping dirt into a nearby construction zone and left the trailer up before crashing.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Central banks and global investors are dumping dollars and buying gold.
    Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Brown is accused of stabbing Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light rail train last year, a brutal attack that drew national outrage after surveillance video of the killing was released.
    Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The man accused of stabbing a Butler County Sheriff's Office deputy has been charged, according to court records.
    Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As Sheridan emptied his pockets, Ronald Heath began kicking the man and stabbing him with a hunting knife, prosecutors said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Sheridan then began trying to turn over his valuables but Ronald Heath then began kicking him, stabbed him in the neck and then tried to slit his throat, though the knife was too dull, court records say.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Some proponents argue that if those interest rates were capped, banks could simply absorb those losses by accepting lower profits or slashing their marketing budgets.
    Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The company has largely outmuscled global behemoth Starbucks in China by slashing prices and offering a menu featuring a huge variety of options to cater to local tastes.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Their premise is that international-relations scholars are flailing in part because they’re trained to think of their field, as its name implies, as affairs between and among states.
    Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • In videos shared to social media, Beard, 52, can be seen stepping onto the court while yelling, pointing and flailing his arms.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Martinko recommends hanging a paper calendar on your wall, switching to a paper planner, and writing out grocery lists and meal plans in lieu of turning to your digital device.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
  • In the phase two trial, patients started on weekly injections of the drug for 12 weeks before switching to once-monthly dosing.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 6 Feb. 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 11 Feb. 2026.

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