1
as in to slap
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
after the man had punched the bartender for eighty-sixing him, bouncers stepped in and restrained him until the police could arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
the real punch of the speech came in its closing lines
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind
we're going to need a candidate with real punch if voters are ever going to get excited about this election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the poor palooka wasn't able to land a single punch on his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument
old computers used to get information by reading the punches on a series of cards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of punch
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Busquets, 37, then reached around Baker’s shoulder and punched Vargas’ chin.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The fact that calls here are so unbearably real adds an extra gut punch to an already distressing scenario.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
Williams then allegedly pushed his thumbs into Bushway's eyes and repeatedly punched him, per the report.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Busquets, 37, then reached around Baker’s shoulder and punched Vargas’ chin.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
The bursts packed a punch, uprooting even mature trees in the Carmichael area, and disrupting power to thousands of Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The fact that calls here are so unbearably real adds an extra gut punch to an already distressing scenario.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
-
DraftKings, one of the biggest online sports gambling sites in Illinois, is slapping 50- or 25-cent fees on most bets.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
During the stream, Kardashian tagged along for Cenat's noodle game — basically, a challenge where the influencer and his friends take turns hitting each other on the head with pool noodles while participants wear helmets and don't know which of their peers slapped them from behind.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While Tranter tinkers and Zuzana monitors the wall of local surveillance footage, Karalis and his team get to work drilling through the wall of the vault.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
His company saw a 2,408% increase in flaring immediately following new wells being drilled and a 692% increase in flaring overall in 2023, according to emails unearthed by environmental watchdog organization Fieldnotes and shared with ProPublica and Inside Climate News.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Police reported the suspect got into an awaiting black SUV driven by a second suspect, and the pair fled the scene.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But there is also a deeper democratic malaise driven by his reluctance to heed the message delivered at the ballot box.—
Cole Stangler,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The raw tuna got smacked with a Stop Sale.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
As of this publication, the final Conjuring movie starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren lands smack dab in the middle of the best and worst rated Conjuring Cinematic Universe films on Rotten Tomatoes.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The fatal knife wound pierced Martin's sternum before going into his heart.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Hospitals overflowing with patients ripped by shrapnel and pierced by bullets.—
Brendan Rascius,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Surround it with pumpkins, fashion it in front of a garland strand, or place it on a velvet table running across the manteltop to tie the whole look together.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This look is perfect for landing in a style-conscious city like Paris or Chicago and hitting the ground running without needing a quick change in the airport bathroom.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When the financial crisis hit in 2008, Mindy Fitzpatrick considered selling her family’s 6-acre wooded lot on Friendly Road.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Sticker shock, though, is expected to hit when consumers shop for 2026 model year cars and trucks as more of those vehicles arrive at dealer lots, according to Cox Automotive.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Notably, @TCUFootball did not poke fun at Belichick’s relationship with his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
-
There was a valley of veins moving over his hands, blue rivers poking underneath his hairless arms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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