as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 pummel
Republican lawmakers are breathing a sigh of relief that the courts are putting the brakes on President Trump’s trade war, which has pummeled markets, created economic uncertainty and taken a bite out of Trump’s approval ratings.
—
Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 30 May 2025
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings as heavy rainfall pummeled Kansas City.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2025
Ring Cam Shows Woman Rescuing 93-Year-Old Neighbor As Tornado Sirens Wail
By
Joe Edwards and
John Feng
Live News Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
2
Satellite images reveal the devastation in London, Kentucky, after a tornado pummeled the area last week.
—Joe Edwards
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Certainly, the viewership for the Coca-Cola 600 won’t rival that of Thursday night football (the NFL pummels every other American pro sports league in terms of TV ratings).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 30 May 2025
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings as heavy rainfall pummeled Kansas City.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2025
Ring Cam Shows Woman Rescuing 93-Year-Old Neighbor As Tornado Sirens Wail
By
Joe Edwards and
John Feng
Live News Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
2
Satellite images reveal the devastation in London, Kentucky, after a tornado pummeled the area last week.
—Joe Edwards
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Certainly, the viewership for the Coca-Cola 600 won’t rival that of Thursday night football (the NFL pummels every other American pro sports league in terms of TV ratings).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pummel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummel
Verb
-
Two new friends spent the afternoon chatting, licking our deliciously unexpected delights and beginning a life-long bond.—
Susan Cunningham Euker,
Baltimore Sun,
14 June 2025
-
The viral post opens with a quiet, intimate moment: the Labrador sits beside her puppy, gently licking her head.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
The idea is simple: guests hide small rubber ducks around the ship for others to find.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
-
Diesel plays Kaulder, a cursed immortal knight who is tasked with keeping rogue witches in line and hidden from the general populace.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
His answers often incite him to pound his fist on the meeting table, interspersed with loud exclamations.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
-
His approach emphasizes collaboration with industry to create a framework where the rules are clearly known as the primary regulatory tool rather than aggressive enforcement based on applying existing laws, which many industry insiders described as pounding a square peg into a round hole.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
Almost daily, the news has stories and videos of people being robbed or beaten in Baltimore, shot and killed, or simply being harassed.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
23 June 2025
-
In the semis, Parenteau turned back the clock and played a solid game to beat Buckner and return to the final for the first time in nearly a year.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Forecasters said Erick was expected over the coming hours to lash Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge.—
Luis Alberto Cruz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
-
That’s something that our character was going through a really tough moment and feeling really bad and wanting to be angry and lash out., Travis Scott’s music really carries that emotion for a lot of young kids.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
The San Diego native whipped a low cross into the box, which both Adriana Leon and Ascanio narrowly missed.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 June 2025
-
Chelsea took the lead on 13 minutes when Neto raced away from deep inside the Flamengo half and opened his body before whipping the ball past Agustin Rossi.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
Rather than steps, the aim is for a wearable that can monitor wellness without pelting the wearer with stats and alerts.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Minutes before a team of fully uniformed, stick-carrying players were to leave the dressing room to take the ice for the national anthem, a rat pelted across the carpet.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
These nimble vehicles are built to precise specs, and capturing racing footage from the driver's point of view isn't as simple as slapping a GoPro on and calling it a day.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
16 June 2025
-
The experience was shared on Reddit, where the passenger detailed how the person seated behind him, in first class nonetheless, repeatedly tapped and slapped the person's head and hat to awaken him to help retrieve a lost earbud.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pummel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummel. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share