1
as in slaps
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 drills
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in blows
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 punctures
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of punches
Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Russia will not stop unless someone bigger and tougher than them punches him in the nose.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
But the semifinals starting at Las Vegas definitely tips the scales toward Joe Gibbs Racing, as this is a track where Hamlin, Bell and Briscoe are well suited to get a win that punches one of their tickets to the title finale.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
For its relatively small footprint, Hôtel Place d'Armes punches far above its weight from a culinary POV, with a fabulous on-site brasserie, a trendy sushi bar, and a panoramic roof terrace (open seasonally) that’s widely considered one of the city’s best spots for outdoor drinks with a view.
—Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
What to do in Glasgow Glasgow’s reputation as Scotland’s gritty second city—compared to the regal, castle-on-a-hill status of Edinburgh, the country’s capital—has been changing lately, thanks to sprawling parks, boundary-pushing museums, and a dining scene that punches far above its weight.
—Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
The winner punches their ticket to the Final 2.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
After they were both forced to strip while being held at gunpoint by Mancuso’s son Junior and associate Babbitt (Chris Coy), the brothers have a blowout fight on the side of a highway in their underwear, and Vince ultimately punches Jake in the face.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Leo pulls no punches as Lizzo matches her intensity in a whisper.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
While critics may feel Baumbach is pulling his punches, Oscars voters could appreciate that spirit of generosity toward those in the movie business.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Early in the contest, Toronto’s big punches arrived.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Silva was projected to win the fight by a large margin when Weidman came in with a flurry of punches, sending him to the canvas.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The humanoid also nails a couple of spins and launches a few punches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
The crack of punches hitting the Giants fan can be heard on the cellphone video Thomas captured that afternoon.
—Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
Founded in 1777, Lexington is home to both Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute (VMI), and the presence of the universities no doubt plays a part in a cultural richness that punches above its weight class for a tiny town of just 7,000 people.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Russia will not stop unless someone bigger and tougher than them punches him in the nose.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
But the semifinals starting at Las Vegas definitely tips the scales toward Joe Gibbs Racing, as this is a track where Hamlin, Bell and Briscoe are well suited to get a win that punches one of their tickets to the title finale.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
For its relatively small footprint, Hôtel Place d'Armes punches far above its weight from a culinary POV, with a fabulous on-site brasserie, a trendy sushi bar, and a panoramic roof terrace (open seasonally) that’s widely considered one of the city’s best spots for outdoor drinks with a view.
—Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
What to do in Glasgow Glasgow’s reputation as Scotland’s gritty second city—compared to the regal, castle-on-a-hill status of Edinburgh, the country’s capital—has been changing lately, thanks to sprawling parks, boundary-pushing museums, and a dining scene that punches far above its weight.
—Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
The winner punches their ticket to the Final 2.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
After they were both forced to strip while being held at gunpoint by Mancuso’s son Junior and associate Babbitt (Chris Coy), the brothers have a blowout fight on the side of a highway in their underwear, and Vince ultimately punches Jake in the face.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
Despite its 2-5 record, Cleveland can throw some punches through one of the fiercest defensive lines in football.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Leo pulls no punches as Lizzo matches her intensity in a whisper.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
While critics may feel Baumbach is pulling his punches, Oscars voters could appreciate that spirit of generosity toward those in the movie business.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Early in the contest, Toronto’s big punches arrived.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Silva was projected to win the fight by a large margin when Weidman came in with a flurry of punches, sending him to the canvas.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The humanoid also nails a couple of spins and launches a few punches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
The crack of punches hitting the Giants fan can be heard on the cellphone video Thomas captured that afternoon.
—Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punches
Verb
-
As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
By the end, only one of the assassins is alive; Brian ties him to a tree and slaps him around a bit, demanding to know who hired him.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The state also limited preseason contact drills to six hours total and banned spring and summer practices.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
-
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After Fuller drives home to her palatial estate, two strangers in masks emerge from the bushes.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Mentorship drives both confidence and capability, even becoming a powerful tool to foster accessibility and belonging.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This week, Megan Thee Stallion enters her lover girl era, Hayley Williams throws it back to Paramore’s After Laughter heyday with a funky love song, and Demi Lovato hits the club or her new not-that-deep studio album.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
-
New Delhi pollution hits five-year high Air pollution in New Delhi hit a five-year high this week, as Diwali fireworks combined with farming fires to shroud the city in a toxic haze.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her infectious laugh regularly pierces the newsroom noise.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
-
But the show's greatest asset is its stars, whose endearing real-life friendship pierces through the play’s inherent despair.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Birdie runs First-round leader Steven Alker ran off six consecutive birdies on the back nine Friday which jettisoned him up the leaderboard to a tournament-record 61.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The Bachelor season 19 contestant, Jade Roper Tolbert, who runs her own cosmetics company, was also a judge.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That said, Dexter’s signature burger knocks it out of the park, with two uber-beefy, coarsely ground patties and a lightly sweet and super fluffy bun, plus American cheese, thin pickle slices, red onion and dijonnaise.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Gap High-Rise Cuffed Wide-Leg Jeans Gap’s denim collection always knocks it out of the park, and these cuffed wide-leg jeans are no exception.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Minnesota will be aggressive filling whatever holes spring up, and Reeve has proven to be resourceful.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Drill small pilot holes a half inch from the sides of the board.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punches. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share