POUNDS Synonyms: 315 Similar and Opposite Words

pounds 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of pound

as in punches

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument give the nail a final pound with the hammer

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pounds

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of pound

as in cages

an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified

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pounds

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of pound

as in shuffles

to move heavily or clumsily pounding down the road as fast as he could run

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hits

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner pounding nails into boards all day long

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as in licks

to strike repeatedly during the storm the waves furiously pounded the beach

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as in draws

to shape with a hammer pounding out a depression in the metal

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as in grinds

to reduce to fine particles the tablet may be pounded and mixed in with the animal's food

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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 pounds

Noun

Big sophomore Charlie Beniot, 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, came on in his place and performed admirably. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2026 Tolle, all 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, came barreling off the mound, quickly fielded the ball and then ran toward Canzone along the first-base line. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 It was later revealed that the plane had been overloaded by 700 pounds and the pilot, who had cocaine and alcohol in his system, was not authorized to be flying, according to CBS. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The transfer fee offered by Everton is reported to be in the range of 40 million pounds ($54 million) on a four-year deal, the British Press Association said. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 The kakapo is also the heaviest parrot species, with males weighing up to 9 pounds. — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 When researchers first began tinkering with large-scale additive manufacturing, printers squeezed out material at a sluggish 20 pounds per hour. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 Since then, the company has been working to remove approximately 88 million pounds of rotting food, including meat and fish that was stored inside. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 This is a heavy oven, though—nearly 130 pounds—and should be elevated for comfortable use. — Olivia Tarantino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Part of the problem is that every summer, water pounds down on sidewalks in the Treasure Valley, drops rippling on glassy reflective surfaces, all because of sprinkler jets overshooting the grass and landing on pavement. — Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2026 Ukraine pounds Russia with long-range strikes At the same time, Ukraine has shifted the war onto Russian soil through long-range drone strikes on oil facilities that have caused fuel shortages across Russia. — Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 The first murder is a girl slicing into her slumbering mother’s neck with a hacksaw; then her brother pounds his father’s face in with a baseball bat. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 Back from a hamstring injury, Teoscar Hernández rejoins a relentless Dodgers offense that pounds 17 hits and three homers in a 9-4 win over the Athletics. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Teams go bonkers when the player pounds their school name on the bracket. — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026 Rain pounds down in a stinging curtain. — Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026 That game enabled the younger brother to mentally shift from a pitcher prone to walks to a pitcher who now consistently pounds the zone. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounds

Noun

His legacy will be most remembered for two painful gut punches to Bruins tradition.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Mayer had some early success with her jab, but Cameron increasingly took control as the fight progressed and landed the cleaner punches before hurting Mayer with a right hand in the eighth round.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

The line shuffles forward quickly, and my heart knots in my chest as Heartfillers are dosed to each person up ahead.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
In the clip, Dawkins shuffles out onto the field with no shirt, a pair of Crocs and a clear plastic bag ready to get the ol' inside-out treatment.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of shuffles

Verb

That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.

— Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of licks

Verb

Editor’s pick More picks A rare bird draws flocks of Southern California birders to this Irvine marsh to get a glimpse.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Jeff Bezos' Dolly Parton Instagram post draws criticism Bezos remembered Parton in an Instagram post alongside a throwback photo of the pair from 2022, when the Amazon founder presented her with the Bezos Courage and Civility Award.

— sameen, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of draws

Verb

Finance ministers and central bank officials of G20 countries convene in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the US-Iran war grinds into its sixth month, raising inflation expectations and keeping energy prices elevated.

— Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
As Poles grinds through his Sunday, The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer offer this roster projection.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of grinds

Noun

The impact of yesterday’s sharp drop in South Korean equities transmitted further into US markets overnight, spreading selling sentiment and dealing heavy blows to US semiconductor and memory stocks.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Guevera also reportedly came to blows with Eddie Kingston in 2022, leading to Kingston’s suspension.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026