slug 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of slugnext
as in punch
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument one well aimed slug on the head knocked him out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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slug

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈsləg How to pronounce slug (audio)
1
as in snail
a lazy person he's always a slug in the morning, which is why he prefers to sleep late

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sip
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time knocked back another slug of whiskey

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slug

3 of 3

verb

as in to punch
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over

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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 slug
Noun
Baking soda can help prevent powdery mildew, kill weeds, repel slugs, and clean produce, but must be used sparingly. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026 Those attract tiny insects, which attract larger insects, which draw slugs, snails, and other wildlife. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026
Verb
Miami slugged six homers in the series, while the Mets went deep twice. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 The Athletics displayed life in the bottom of the third as Alika Williams doubled and Kurtz slugged a mammoth 457-foot, two-run homer to center, his 20th of the season. — Miami Herald, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for slug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slug
  1. punch
  2. snail
  3. sip
  4. hit
  5. blow
  6. drone
  7. gulp
  8. slap
Noun
  • The one-two punch not only validates the once-struggling stock's recent resurgence.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Despite its small stature, this mini table's design—with its dramatic sloping base and softened top—packs a punch.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Alluding to the attack only in the title, Anedda notes a few events showing the effects, patterns and tasks of an illustrator, the men seeking martyrdom, as well as the earthworms, gnats and the snail working the soil.
    — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Scientists rescued 34 endangered humped tree snails from Guam by collecting them in empty peanut butter jars ahead of a powerful typhoon.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of snail
Noun
  • The seasonal calendar is stretching earlier, chains are competing to own the first sip of autumn, and customers are voting with their orders.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on presidential portrayals and summer sips.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sip
Verb
  • Dramatic footage shows a torrent of water hitting at the Nepal-China border.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Parton earned dozens of top 10 country hits, and her professional ambitions grew along with her career.
    — Jewly Hight, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hit
Noun
  • If the aim, as stated, is to deal an economic blow to Iran, the fact is that the country is already under severe strain.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of blow
Noun
  • Between Thursday and Sunday, Russia fired almost 1,500 drones at Ukraine, and around 800 of them were jet-powered, Zelensky said.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Latest drone footage from CCTV shows rescue workers using lifting equipment in an attempt to restore and rebuild a road by the turbulent currents and in between the towering mountains.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of drone
Noun
  • Kenzo leaned back so that his bobbing Adam’s apple was visible, and drank it down in one gulp.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Cradled in her arms, the newborn suckles eagerly, its tiny paws paddling the air with every gulp.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of gulp
Verb
  • While outlining the details of Clancy's suicide attempt, Reddington slapped a quarter on the table and addressed the prosecutors in what appeared to be a direct challenge to the state.
    — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 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 slap

Phrases Containing slug

Browse Nearby Words

sludgy
slug
slugabed
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on slug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slug

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