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
Killing Joel was a sucker punch, but forcing players to take on the identity of his killer?
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 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
Killing Joel was a sucker punch, but forcing players to take on the identity of his killer?
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 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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Tamra Judge steps up to the line and, like Judge Dredd with hair extensions, knocks down two dozen or so targets in 27 seconds, seemingly without missing a shot.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
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The first clue directs teams to an ice rink where duos must push each other on sleds with the goal of knocking down bowling pins.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now imagine he was felled by an assassin’s bullet.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
23 Sep. 2025
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The rebuilding took 1,200 oak trees felled from forests across France to replace the framework of the roof and 1,000 construction workers.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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His first throw was tantamount to a layup, a play-action fake to the right that sprung fullback Kyle Juszczyk wide open to the left.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Stewart was bundled up in a white winter jacket with a large fur hood on the left.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 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
-
Gardens brim with fall florals, landscapers here seem to outdo themselves, decking porches and pathways with mums, pumpkins, and late blooms that rival summer’s splendor.—
Christine Chitnis,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
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The brewery will also still deck the halls for its over-the-top Big Holiday Energy pop-up later this year.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The daycare owners also signed away their right to sue for flood damages, but the state did not place a restrictive covenant on their remaining property.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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Republican Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz piped up in defense of Kimmel’s right to free speech without governmental interference.—
Sarah Stankorb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a medium mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and honey until well combined.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
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Frosting is made with butter or cream and works well for design creation without being as hearty as fondant.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sucker punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punch. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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