punch 1 of 3

punch

2 of 3

noun (1)

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
3

punch

3 of 3

noun (2)

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of punch
Verb
The posts, which were captured by television writer Reality Steve, alleged that Johnson had punched a visible hole through her wall. Diane J. Cho, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025 Simon Lunsford, Tre Gutierrez Co. proved to be too much as the Rams (18-9) punched a ticket to their first title game trip in 31 years. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
Hopefully, the [eventual] gut punch will be even greater that way. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025 Absorb punches until Trump tires himself out or, more likely, the American people get tired of all the chaos and disruption. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for punch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch
Verb
  • But that all changed in December, when Trump first threatened to slap heavy tariffs on his northern neighbor.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The short answer: President Trump and his insistence on slapping tariffs on key trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China.
    Russ Wiles, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The department is also drilling and grouting to stabilize eastbound I-80.
    Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The observations draw sharp contrast to previous studies of ecology below the ice, which either dropped cameras down through holes drilled in the ice or took place years after an iceberg calved.
    Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, the league’s decision-making on NBA expansion will be driven by a combination of market size, media presence, economic factors, and ownership interest.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • This approach delivers precision targeting that drives measurable results.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Jordan Hicks pitched an efficient five-plus innings, Tyler Fitzgerald smacked a two-run homer and scored a run, and the Giants beat the Tigers, 4-3.
    Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
  • In actuality, everything — unbeknownst to him — was ridiculously staged in a pitch-perfect reality TV parody, as comedy improv actors like David Hornsby and pre-Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig would put Gould smack dab in the middle of absurd situation after absurd situation.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That, for me, is the only piercing message of this whole thing.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
  • That list was winnowed in December to three corridors, including what is known as the Southwestern Grid Connector — which would run up the eastern edge of New Mexico, scrape the western edge of the Oklahoma panhandle and pierce the southeast corner of Colorado.
    John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For an extra clean, run the empty machine on its highest temperature setting without detergent.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Sunday's warnings generally run from 1 to 8 p.m. MDT, with west winds of 15-25 miles per hour and gusts up to 40 mph.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Joshua Hur hit a home run, Trey Ebel had a two-run double and Ethan Bingaman contributed an RBI triple.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The purge led to a wave of artistic resignations and withdrawals; opera star Renée Fleming gave up her position as artistic adviser to the center, and the producers of the Broadway hit Hamilton withdrew the show from a scheduled engagement, among others.
    Chloe Veltman, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Mary Fowler momentarily looks down and holds up a very neat yellow square of knitting to the camera, two wooden needles poking out either side.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • During the incident, Konig also allegedly attempted to poke the woman with two syringes, Hawaii News Now reported, citing law enforcement sources.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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