boxing

verb

Definition of boxingnext
present participle of box
as in punching
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 boxing He was stripped of his heavyweight title, barred from boxing for more than three years and convicted of draft evasion. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 But for Gonzales, the gym has always been about more than boxing. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing world champion, and Panettiere began dating in 2009 and got engaged in October 2013. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 This extended to her closest competitors in the Tour, after Niewiadoma-Phinney accused Vollering’s teammate Célia Gery of boxing her in during the crucial penultimate stage. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 The cemetery is home to Emmett Till, singing icon Dinah Washington and boxing great Ezzard Charles. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 That's my thought and my expectation, but this is boxing and anything can happen. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Later, Young tossed a jump-ball to wideout Brycen Tremayne in the end zone with cornerback Corey Thornton boxing him out. — Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026 One of Hooper’s matches involved him boxing icon Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali. — Corey Davis, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxing
  1. punching
  2. hitting
  3. knocking
  4. slapping
  5. slamming
  6. smacking
  7. banging
  8. clapping
Verb
  • In the film, ex-girlfriend Jill Jones reportedly accused Prince of repeatedly punching her in 1984.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
  • One recent City Series game at Wrigley also had three arrests and included viral brawl that many Cubs fans blamed on Sox fans, though video showed a guy in a Cubs jersey was punching a guy in a Cubs jersey as well.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • Cook will be remembered for making the iPhone feel essential to everything from buying a coffee to listening to music, hitting the gym or paying a credit card bill.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Crow-Armstrong’s 38 blasts are tied with Kyle Schwarber (2019) for second-most by a left-handed-hitting Cub.
    — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • And the defense module can neutralize them via electronics-frying HPM emissions, knocking satellites out without creating a cloud of space debris.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For Lynn Parsons, knocking on a stranger’s door once made the difference between getting home and watching her car get towed away.
    — Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Already, Skubal’s joining in on pregame handshake lines and slapping the dugout railing in time to Roki Sasaki’s warm-up music.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Talarico is barnstorming the state, slamming Republicans mostly on kitchen table issues like stubborn inflation and the price of gas that has skyrocketed due to Trump’s war with Iran.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There was little time for anyone to flee as flash floods decimated villages, slamming into houses, roads, bridges and power plants.
    — Megan De Mar, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • Fast-forward five centuries later to modern-day Seattle, and Liz is forever banging her head hearing her husband's persistent little cough.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Your plumber can also make sure pipes are well secured so the banging stops.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • His routine includes strolling toward the mound and sometimes clapping his hands before taking the baseball.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The sweet video showed Diplo clapping his hands and dancing behind his laptop and speakers, before the camera panned out to show the youngsters.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of clapping

Browse Nearby Words

box (in)
boxing
boxing (in)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on boxing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boxing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All