1
as in to slap
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 to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
punch a ticket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
the real punch of the speech came in its closing lines
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind
we're going to need a candidate with real punch if voters are ever going to get excited about this election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blow
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 puncture
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.
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Recent Examples of punch
Deena Zaru, ABC News, 21 July 2025
Officer punches protestor in face, head and body One video shows a police officer punching a protestor while trying to arrest him.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 18 July 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
There’s already indications American consumers will be the next to take the tariff punch.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Verb
Moments after McNeil again asks to speak with a supervisor, the video shows deputy Bowers breaking his car window and punching him in the face while McNeil is facing forward.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 21 July 2025
Officer punches protestor in face, head and body One video shows a police officer punching a protestor while trying to arrest him.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 18 July 2025
Noun
The audacious idea postulates that rather than America being the first to achieve AGI and ASI, some other country manages to beat us to the punch.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
There’s already indications American consumers will be the next to take the tariff punch.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
-
His vow to slap 30% tariffs on imports from the E.U. could be a negotiating tactic, but many in the wine industry are worried nevertheless.—
Russ Wiles,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
-
So, slap their observations together and astronomers believed that'd paint a beautiful picture of the night sky in its totality.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Once the first seven vertebrae are drilled, Ross takes over on the left side to drill holes on the same vertebrae on the opposite side of the spinal cord.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
-
However, the noise could be caused by a woodpecker drilling on the gutters or near to one of them.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
That in turn drove low wages for workers, high staff turnover and limited capacity for children.—
Rachel Wegner,
The Tennessean,
26 July 2025
-
Holmquist noted an increase in pay for bus drivers and the $11 million spent on stipends to parents who drove their kids to school after cuts were made to magnet transportation.—
Krista Johnson,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Williams, once an endorsement queen, wore a logo-free black dress and white visor and played uncomplicated tennis, smacking nine aces and attacking at the first strike.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
-
If so, Denver has a solid duo set to fly around and smack some dudes over the middle of the field.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
The bullet pierced that victim’s left thigh, exiting then lodging in her right thigh.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
Reduce heat to low to maintain a simmer; simmer over low, covered, until broth mixture has thickened and steaks are tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour, stirring gravy and turning steaks every 15 minutes.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
The chef retired a few years ago, but his son Hiroyuki Sakamoto is running the kitchen now.—
Amber Gibson,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
-
Black flies can travel for miles and can be found anywhere there are running streams or rivers nearby, even in urban areas.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
The floods that hit the Hill Country nearly three weeks ago killed dozens of young girls at Camp Mystic, many of whose families live in the Houston region.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
More: Bourbon, other U.S. spirits could soon be hit with retaliatory EU tariffs.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
Verb
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This review pokes a useful hole in the breathless reception this film received, while managing to feel fond.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
24 July 2025
-
The dish is almost a tease, tickling and poking you by showcasing carrots such that here a confident argument is made to herald them in as the pre-eminent salad vegetable.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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