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

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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 boxing Adam Rodriguez as Ruben Chapa, a trainer at the local El Centro boxing gym. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026 Eubank Jr was seven years older than Benn, five years further into his professional career and, more pertinently, boxing at middleweight, three weight classes higher than super-lightweight Benn. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Pausing midway through a meal to check in with your hunger is a good rule of thumb, and boxing half of a meal at a restaurant to bring home can also help. — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 If, as Jimmy Connors has said, tennis is boxing at ninety feet—a lonely battle of wills that punishes the slightest lapse in concentration—Eala’s southpaw forehand drives resemble Pacquiao’s blazing left hooks. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 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 The cemetery is home to Emmett Till, singing icon Dinah Washington and boxing great Ezzard Charles. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxing
  1. punching
  2. hitting
  3. knocking
  4. slapping
  5. slamming
  6. smacking
  7. banging
  8. clapping
Verb
  • An image from a San Francisco police officer's body camera shows an officer punching Kevon Gibson as he is being restrained by other officers.
    — Senior Editor, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In June, LaBeouf was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to punching three people outside a New Orleans bar during Mardi Gras.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • The national Democratic effort to defeat Collins kept going; now the party is spending millions on an ad hitting her for a ProPublica story about her links to a corrupt defense contractor.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Last year in Arizona, a motorcyclist was fatally injured after hitting a Waymo and being flung into the road.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • For the hearing impaired, select rooms feature visual fire alarms plus signals for telephone ringing and door knocking.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Political handicapping has a way of knocking people down a couple of notches.
    — Nathan Gonzales CQ-Roll Call, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • Hochman said the nannies were caught on video spanking, slapping or hitting the children.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Residents have reported paying excessive amounts to retrieve their vehicles from tow yards, with companies sometimes slapping extra fees on drivers who contact the police, according to council members.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • Donalds’ speech ran the gamut of Republican campaign points, from slamming COVID lockdowns to border crossings.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • On the same day, HHS senior adviser Calley Means doubled down on the claim, posting on X that Kennedy is doing so well that Democratic operatives are slamming the FDA for doing its job by conducting food recalls.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • But Varma and Shivam Dube (27) upped the ante in the final three overs by smacking 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • Kulich stood near the side of the net banging his stick on the ice, and Power found him with the perfect pass.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The autistic girl had stopped hurting herself by banging her head on the floor when she was frustrated.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • At one point, the audience tentatively started clapping then quickly quieted back down.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
  • As the judges give him positive feedback, our Danni is very excited, clapping for him and bouncing up and down like a bobblehead going down a cobblestoned street.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of clapping

Browse Nearby Words

box (in)
boxing
boxing (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Boxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on boxing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boxing

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