1
as in pierced
to make a hole or series of holes in
a nail punctured the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
I could never puncture my own skin with a hypodermic needle
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 punctured
Black used the hatchet to damage the vehicle and punctured the tires with a knife, documents said.
—
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Beckett’s patter of repetitions and reversals—as the tape is rewound, replayed, and punctured by Krapp’s speech in the present—resembles Lerner’s technique.
—Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries can ignite when crushed or punctured inside collection trucks, which can ignite sparks and fire, potentially destroying the truck, never mind jeopardizing the safety of the driver.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Some are demanding change And just like that, the Cesar Chavez myth is punctured.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Yet the reveal that people were still alive out there punctured all that.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The team tested its ability to bend, be compressed, and even punctured.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Mar. 2026
With a trip to the Etihad to come on Saturday, Newcastle's uplift could swiftly be punctured.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The episode has punctured Preckwinkle’s reputation for managerial skill — a primary reason this page has endorsed her in previous elections despite some disagreements with other aspects of her record.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Beckett’s patter of repetitions and reversals—as the tape is rewound, replayed, and punctured by Krapp’s speech in the present—resembles Lerner’s technique.
—Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries can ignite when crushed or punctured inside collection trucks, which can ignite sparks and fire, potentially destroying the truck, never mind jeopardizing the safety of the driver.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Some are demanding change And just like that, the Cesar Chavez myth is punctured.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Yet the reveal that people were still alive out there punctured all that.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The team tested its ability to bend, be compressed, and even punctured.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Mar. 2026
With a trip to the Etihad to come on Saturday, Newcastle's uplift could swiftly be punctured.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The episode has punctured Preckwinkle’s reputation for managerial skill — a primary reason this page has endorsed her in previous elections despite some disagreements with other aspects of her record.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctured
Verb
-
The bullet that struck McKay passed through his arm, pierced his torso and struck his heart inside the Key Gardens burger joint, on Metropolitan Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
When mixture returns to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook potatoes until they can be pierced with a fork but do not fall apart, about 10 minutes.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another did not investigate a claim that a resident was stabbed by a fork-wielding manager, records show.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The 39-year-old homeless man who allegedly stabbed a woman in downtown Los Angeles was wanted for allegedly killing someone last year, according to a law enforcement bulletin a source provided to CBS LA.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
About 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the fight, Grasso drilled Barber in the head with a left hook, knocking her out.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Corjay gathered the rebound and drilled a 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining for the game-winner.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The casting director playfully jabbed Anderson in her acceptance speech, referencing the filmmaker's 14 career Oscar nominations without a victory.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Physical abuse reports involve workers being jabbed with kitchen tools, pushed and punched in the face and stomach by chef René Redzepi and others under him who adopted his management style and culture.—
Shindy Chen
March 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Rockets are a team that lost its starting point guard (Fred VanVleet) at the start of the year while the Knicks brought back and built upon the exact same core that punched the franchise’s first ticket to the conference finals in the last quarter-century.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Manning allegedly punched and kicked Hartman in the face and torso, scratched her, choked her and grabbed her by the hair and slammed her against the floor and wall.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rabell was wearing her nightgown, sobbing, shaking and slumped against her cane when Horta picked her up, Horta said.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Neon picked it up with a commitment to stand by the Not Rated cut alone.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Thorns forward poked the ball through and Ball kicked her leg into Wilson’s path, taking her down inside the box.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Since then, the president has repeatedly poked at the vulnerability.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The average commuter spends 63 hours a year stuck in traffic.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The suspect was stuck in the shoulder while a stray bullet grazed a sleeping 71-year-old in a near by home.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctured. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
