pummeled

verb

variants also pummelled
past tense of pummel
as in pounded
to strike repeatedly pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 pummeled Storms as strong as the ones that pummeled the area look to be a regular feature of summertime in these parts. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Destructive tornadoes and drenching storms pummeled the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including two waterspouts that came ashore in the New York City area. — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 Franks reached the goal line, leapt in the air, trapped the pass to his chest and got pummeled by the Jaguars linebacker in coverage — he was crushed to the point his helmet flew off in the melee. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 It's been nearly a week since heavy rains from a likely derecho pummeled the Midwest and displaced roughly 1,000 people across Indiana. — John Tufts, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2026 Israeli forces have also pummelled Syria with hundreds of airstrikes in recent years, predominantly targeting Syrian army assets to render the facilities unusable by the new government, which is run by former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Ukraine's drones have pummeled the giant depots belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, burning billions of dollars’ worth of merchandise and bringing the war home to the broad public. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Báez pummeled Cubs starter Matt Boyd’s 93-mph fastball and sent the Cardinals’ dugout into a frenzy. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Within a year of being pummeled by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Irpin’s prestigious State Tax University had been mostly repaired. — Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeled
  1. pounded
  2. licked
  3. lashed
  4. whipped
  5. battered
  6. pelted
  7. attacked
  8. knocked
Verb
  • The team's official drumline, The Pack, pounded on illuminated drums during quarter breaks, while Skye, the team's sassy, blue-haired lioness mascot, jumped onto the T-shirt cannon to launch souvenir merchandise high into stadium seats.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rodriguez pounded the strike zone, issuing his only walk in the sixth inning.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounded
Verb
  • Tuxedo kitten Paolina bounced onto my chest and licked my fingers.
    — Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of licked
Verb
  • Outside a fierce storm lashed down, wind whipped against the wood planks, thunder shook the ground, water streamed through cracks and floated into the shack.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the same series of Sunday morning posts, the president also lashed out at Kristen Welker, the moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, for saying his endorsements of Republican candidates in primary elections this year had shown mixed results.
    — Jeff Mason, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • Cheese foam is a smooth and slightly salty whipped foam topping popular in boba drinks.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Outside a fierce storm lashed down, wind whipped against the wood planks, thunder shook the ground, water streamed through cracks and floated into the shack.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • Apple was widely criticized in the late 2000s for not volunteering more information about Jobs’ health, especially as concerns about his gaunt appearance battered the company’s shares.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Analysts believe that the successor's profile could offer the bank re-rating potential, especially as the stock has been battered since the start of the year.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of battered
Verb
  • Being pelted on the world’s stage with the modern equivalent of rotten tomatoes – memes and scathing online posts – hasn't kept the dancer, born Rachael Gunn, from laughing.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Snow crews had to leap into action early Wednesday at the Kansas City Downtown Airport – Wheeler Field after thunderstorms pelted the airport and covered it taxiways with several inches of hail.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pelted
Verb
  • But the university’s recent actions in a lawsuit filed by a former student who was attacked on campus during that period appear at odds with that commitment.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Not long after Bungalow 8 opened, the World Trade Center was attacked.
    — Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacked
Verb
  • Petersen said Unite Here had the largest ground operation of any union in the state during primaries in June and knocked on more than 300,000 doors.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Valero estimated earlier this month that wars in Iran and Ukraine had knocked about 5 million barrels per day of capacity offline.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocked

Browse Nearby Words

pummel
pummeled
pummeling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pummeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeled. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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