as in hulk
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
I wish he wouldn't bring over here that bunch of palookas he calls his friends
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Recent Examples of palooka
One year after the Academy bafflingly ignored his work in Sideways, Giamatti finally scored his first Oscar nomination for his purely entertaining performance as boxing manager Joe Gould in Ron Howard’s proudly old-fashioned Depression-era palooka drama.
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A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
Sylvester Stallone's underdog tale about a struggling palooka given one shot at the heavyweight championship is a stirring sports movie with a level of charm and sweetness that dissipated in the rounds (and rounds) of sequels that followed.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 25 July 2019
All this real guts and glory in Philadelphia, yet one of the big tourist attractions is to run up the Art Museum steps the way a palooka named Rocky Balboa did on the silver screen.
—Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, 1 Jan. 2018
The jokes (by screenwriters Van Robichaux and Evan Susser) have all the wit of a punch-drunk palooka.
—Michael O'Sullivan, The Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2017
Without it, director Phillipe Falardeau's film would be a fairly unremarkable, fairly familiar ride, telling the tale of a big-hearted but undisciplined palooka whose biggest hurdle in life is his own bad judgment.
—Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 17 May 2017
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
Sylvester Stallone's underdog tale about a struggling palooka given one shot at the heavyweight championship is a stirring sports movie with a level of charm and sweetness that dissipated in the rounds (and rounds) of sequels that followed.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 25 July 2019
All this real guts and glory in Philadelphia, yet one of the big tourist attractions is to run up the Art Museum steps the way a palooka named Rocky Balboa did on the silver screen.
—Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, 1 Jan. 2018
The jokes (by screenwriters Van Robichaux and Evan Susser) have all the wit of a punch-drunk palooka.
—Michael O'Sullivan, The Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2017
Without it, director Phillipe Falardeau's film would be a fairly unremarkable, fairly familiar ride, telling the tale of a big-hearted but undisciplined palooka whose biggest hurdle in life is his own bad judgment.
—Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 17 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palooka
Noun
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Kadyrov’s fighters were instrumental in the final assault on Donetsk Airport in January, having fought for months to capture the wrecked hulk of buildings that once made up the passenger terminals.Nicholas Waller, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2015
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There were literal piles of dead and mangled Russians around the smoldering hulks.David Axe, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Reporters dutifully type up the winners and losers on their flights home.Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
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As with other areas of the law, the Biden-Harris administration routinely weaponized antitrust enforcement to pick economic winners and losers.Tom Hebert, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The result is a 120-horsepower power output coupled to a robust 69 pound-feet of torque, all from a lump weighing at just 120 pounds - a full 20 pounds less than the old 105 horsepower 955cc L-Twin in the current Super Sport and other models.William Roberson, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
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Gradually pour in half of the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming, then whisk in the remaining milk.Brianna Crane, Axios, 23 Nov. 2024
Noun
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It’s been a long time coming for Managing Partner Kathleen Klinger and her cohorts in ownership, one that’s seen this 3,600-square-foot former warehouse repurposed into a mecca for mutts — and cyclists.Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
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The apartment was otherwise perfect for my needs; the three bedrooms and two full bathrooms offered plenty of space for my two kids, and my large rescue mutt would fit right into the dog-friendly building.Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Or even an appearance from Tom Holland’s Peter Parker that would mean two hours haven’t been wasted watching this forgettable origin tale of a villain who’s not really THAT bad.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
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The news comes a couple days after Variety reported that a film about the Batman villain was coming down the pike.Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The clowns there, contributed by donors worldwide, are not for sale.Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
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The parade’s 98th year was the largest yet, with more than 5,000 volunteers, 17 character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands and 10 performance groups.Violet Goldstone, WWD, 30 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Species observed slipping through those 4-inch slots at least once included striped skunk, gray fox, raccoon, bobcat, coyote and javelina.Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2024
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People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals — raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes — which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment, the agency said.Brian Bell, Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near palooka
Cite this Entry
“Palooka.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palooka. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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