slug 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of slugnext
as in punch
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument one well aimed slug on the head knocked him out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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slug

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈsləg How to pronounce slug (audio)
1
as in snail
a lazy person he's always a slug in the morning, which is why he prefers to sleep late

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sip
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time knocked back another slug of whiskey

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slug

3 of 3

verb

as in to punch
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over

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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 slug
Noun
These larvae then either bore into or are eaten by slugs or snails. — Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025 Red-eared slider turtles may chow down on earthworms, snails, slugs and leafy greens, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. — Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
On the field, Iglesias set career highs in batting average (.337), on-base percentage (.381) and slugging (.448) and became the starting second baseman late in the year after Jeff McNeil fractured his wrist. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 In ’17, Blackmon hit .331 to win the National League batting title, slugged 37 homers and set a then-major league record with 103 RBIs from the leadoff position (since surpassed by Mookie Betts’s 107 and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 106 in 2023). — Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slug
  1. punch
  2. hit
  3. slap
  4. smack
  5. knock
  6. slam
  7. bang
  8. pound
Verb
  • The last Sweet 16 tickets will be punched on Sunday, with second-round tourney action starting around noon Eastern and concluding shortly before midnight.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • How to Watch Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers: Date: Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025 Time: 6:50 PM ET Channel: TNT Stream: Sling (watch) Wofford punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament with a 92-85 win over Furman in the Southern Conference Championship game.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of punch
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 left-handed hitting Baldwin is listed by fangraphs.com to hit 7th in the Braves starting lineup.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of hit
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
Definition of slap
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
Definition of smack
Verb
  • Steel was then penalized for knocking Pickard late in the third.
    — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • After a village Electoral Board ruling knocked Tinley Together off the ballot, a Cook County Circuit Court judge, in early January, reversed that ruling.
    — Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of knock
Verb
  • Ruffin was quick with her answer, slamming the Republican party for her removal from the WHCA dinner.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The Kings lost nine of their last 12 games to open the door for the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference play-in race, but that door might have slammed shut Sunday.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of slam
Verb
  • But Isaiah Jackson’s runner in the lane banged off the back iron and the Red Raiders were on the go.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2025
  • But for those banging the drum to get Tad out to pasture, remember: The grass isn’t always greener.
    — Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of bang
Verb
  • Schumer has taken a public pounding from his party's base, not to mention House Democrats, since voting to keep the government open last week.
    — Stephen Neukam, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Southern California was being pounded by a major storm Thursday morning, bringing evacuation warnings and fears of mudslides.
    — Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of pound

Phrases Containing slug

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sludgy
slug
slugabed
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Cite this Entry

“Slug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slug. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slug

Nglish: Translation of slug for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slug

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