punching

verb

present participle of punch
1
as in slapping
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

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2
as in drilling
to make a hole or series of holes in punch a ticket

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in driving
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys punching cattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 punching 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 In 2019, when Altamirano was mayor pro tem, a council member accused Altamirano of sucker-punching him. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 In late June 2025, Rodriguez was again arrested after allegedly repeatedly punching someone at a home care facility in Hayward for an unknown reason, court records show. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 According to the arrest report, Deputy Isaiah Williams climbed on top of the victim and began punching her in the face. — Anna McAllister, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 The dispute turned physical when Domenech started punching and slapping Aballe, authorities said. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Investigators found a video in a hidden folder on Shelby’s phone, dated May 19, 2025, which was alleged to show Jeremy striking, choking and repeatedly punching his wife, as well as grabbing her by the throat and threatening to kill her, per KBSI. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 Alaves' Ángel Pérez was reprimanded by coach Quique Sánchez Flores after being substituted and punching the bench several times. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punching
  1. slapping
  2. drilling
  3. driving
  4. hitting
  5. piercing
  6. running
  7. smacking
  8. poking
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
  • Options considered during the analysis included drilling holes in the existing piles and adding more steel inside, or widening the pile caps so more piles could be added on the outside.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Still, the Center for Biological Diversity last week filed an emergency petition with the New Mexico Supreme Court, challenging the state’s approval of well drilling to supply millions of gallons of water for Project Jupiter’s construction.
    — Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of drilling
Verb
  • Economists can debate whether a top-15 economy should morph itself into a giant leveraged bet on the AI trade, one now driving growth to new highs rather than simply riding alongside it.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Still, several financial analysts have concluded that the prediction frenzy, with its sleek mobile apps and easy-to-understand odds, are driving the stock drops.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of driving
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
  • Agents then raided the Wynwood apartment and found 540 kilos (almost 1,200 pounds) of cocaine, $3 million in cash, 14 firearms and more than 100 rounds of armor-piercing bullets, prosecutors say.
    — David Goodhue August 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Claire’s is trying to recapture its glory as the go-to destination for both tween girls and for piercing.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • Immediately, several social media users accused him of running another scheme.
    — Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The festival sits on 16 acres and will have more 175 crafters, 50 food and drink booths and 25 stages of entertainment running all day.
    — Rashad Alexander August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of running
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
  • Most of what’s actionable comes from the signal that might be poking through.
    — Ben Gretch, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In the shade of a dense forest canopy, Odette Kouakou paces through her grove of cocoa trees, snapping off dead leaves and poking the ripe yellow pods hanging down from the branches with a stick.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of poking

Browse Nearby Words

punches out
punching
punching bag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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