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 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, 7 Oct. 2026 Unscrewing its top reveals a small pin that can be used for punching holes, ejecting a SIM card, or simply as a toothpick. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026 According to Liv, LaPenna injured his hand while punching one of the robots but otherwise avoided a serious injury. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 But there’s a difference between putting an opponent to sleep and punching it in the face. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Bella chews him out for punching Angus in the face right before Angus’s big presentation, which Johnny knew about because they were supposed to throw a return supper for him, a dinner Johnny was supposed to cook. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026 Never mind that one of those clubs will have to face the White Sox or Guardians in the ALCS before raising a pennant and punching a ticket to the Fall Classic. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026 Castro whips her head around and follows him, punching him in the back. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punching
  1. slapping
  2. drilling
  3. driving
  4. hitting
  5. piercing
  6. running
  7. smacking
  8. poking
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
  • Researchers investigating the site believed by some to be Noah's Ark have just wrapped up their first full field season — drilling more than 60 feet beneath the site and collecting hundreds of samples now undergoing laboratory analysis.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • To determine the duration of the Chicxulub hydrothermal system, Pickersgill recovered samples at the site, drilling 1 km down.
    — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of drilling
Verb
  • In the employer market, more recent data suggest the volumes of prescriptions — which are proprietary — are driving up spending more than prices, although prices are still a factor.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • When the Vikings regained possession Minnesota gobbled up the clock, driving the ball to the 2-yard line before ending the game with the victory formation.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of driving
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
  • The most impressive is the national park’s namesake, El Teide, a cloud-piercing volcano at around 12,200 feet high—Spain’s tallest peak.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Henry is tall and slender with a piercing gaze and blue-gray eyes.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • Two blocks of six films each, running roughly an hour apiece, will precede the awards and the jury announcement.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Jadan Baugh, who had been receiving some early Heisman Trophy hype after running for 11 touchdowns over his first four games, carried 12 times for only 13 yards.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of running
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
  • Sometimes only the tips of the reeds and the seed heads were visible, poking above the murky water, and other times the reeds stood fully exposed, with a clear view of crabs clambering around their bases.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Video posted to social media showed one car nearly submerged, with just its sunroof poking above the water, as people moved other vehicles farther from the rising tides.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of poking

Browse Nearby Words

punches out
punching
punching bag
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Cite this Entry

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

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