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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 slug
Noun
On a late November afternoon in 1991, Sam Aiuppa climbed into a stand and dropped a slug into his Remington 870. — Scott Einsmann, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026 Remember to bury the container deep enough to let the slugs in and out. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
And an afternoon slugging pints at Hog’s Head at Wizarding World of Harry Potter is certainly not the equivalent of a day at an authentic British pub. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Rafael Devers entered Sunday afternoon as the hottest hitter in baseball, having slugged six home runs in his past half-dozen games. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 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
  • However, this is a stellar opportunity to dig into excellent, authentic Thai dishes (no punches held on sour or spice), and the Thai Wok Omelet with blue crab and morning glory at breakfast is exceedingly memorable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The punch-worthy parody of Altman’s characterization ramps up once he’s motivated to push back against — or trample over — the safety guardrails that Ilya prizes above all else, but so does the depth of his world-breaking cynicism.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • At Malate Church in Manila, parishioners marked the feast by bringing their beloved pets for a special blessing — mostly dogs but also cats and even a pet snail.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The inflatable horses, butterflies, snails and other creatures were made by the New York artist and designer Katie Stout.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of snail
Noun
  • Our editors appreciated that every sip was full of spice, with an authentically fresh flavor that could hold up to cozy warm temperatures without a lot of extra doctoring up.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Cola Addict captures that fizzy first sip with zippy lemon and lime, spicy ginger, and a kick of cinnamon that almost mimics the tingle of carbonation.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sip
Verb
  • Residential real estate prices may hit a bottom in the third quarter of 2028, the report said.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • For Fleabag and The Tourist producer Two Brothers, the show is the first hitting the international market since its parent, All3Media, was acquired by Banijay.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of hit
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Merz's power inside Germany has taken a blow after a string of state election defeats last month, including losses to the anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The community suffered another blow the following month with the death of Sandy Steers, the executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit behind the livestream.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • The South London artist channels Disney soundtrack tropes into claustrophobic strings and drones, while a handful of vocal tracks hint darkly at real-world family drama.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Sobyanin later reported 68 more drones targeting Moscow were downed during daylight on Tuesday morning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of drone
Noun
  • Atkinson’s gift for galloping plot, as well as her typical attention to even the most tertiary character, make this a delicious gulp of a read.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of gulp
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 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slug

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slug

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