Thesaurus results for PUMMELING

pummeling 1 of 2

noun

variants also pummelling

as in thrashing

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pummeling

2 of 2

verb

variants also pummelling

present participle of pummel

as in pounding

to strike repeatedly pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

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 pummeling

Noun

Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and pummeling rain as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island's outer barrier. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 Well, that honor goes to the 1885 New York Giants, whose 24-0 pummeling of the Buffalo Bisons has stood the test of time. — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Trump’s critics, especially in Israel, worry that the agreement effectively allows Iran to repair a proxy force diminished by months of Israeli pummeling. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Men In Blazers Reigning European champions Spain finally looked like tournament favorites, with teenage star Lamine Yamal leading it to a 4-0 pummeling of Saudi Arabia. — David Hickey, NBC news, 22 June 2026 As violent as these bouts get, fighters agree to honor the rules, even mid-pummeling. — Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 This spiritual, emotional, and physical reset is a million miles away from the hormone pummeling of current weight-loss drugs, and the aughts’ detox ethos. — Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 May 2026 The increasingly gruesome pummelling continues, cross-cutting with Cassie’s discussion with Naz (Jack Topalian), calmly eating pie on the couch, about what this means to her, and how her wedding was supposed to be the best day of her life. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026 Of course, Flextail didn't curl up, back into a corner and submit to a pummeling, counterpunching with its own tiny 1-oz inflator just a couple months later. — New Atlas, 20 Apr. 2026

Verb

Democrats are more than happy to draw those connections, pummeling their Republican rivals for standing by a president who is unpopular with so many voters. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The key will be credibly signaling that critical Russian military and economic assets will be at risk if Russian forces continue pummeling Ukraine’s civilian economy and society. — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026 Then, after forcing a three-and-out, Notre Dame went to work again in pummeling fashion. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Russia has been pummeling Ukrainian cities with near non-stop aerial attacks, taking advantage of Kyiv’s critical shortages of air defense missiles. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 The weather service says some parts of South Florida could see as much as 8 to 10 inches of rain this week, as storms keep pummeling the region with downpours. — Juan Ortega, Sun Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026 In both cases, the characters at least initially try to avoid violence, and harbor aspirations more personal than pummelling opponents ad nauseam. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 Over the Fourth of July weekend, a series of storms skimmed the south of the city, pummeling Coney Island and the Rockaways with sand and sending beach umbrellas spinning like tops. — Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026 Instead of pummeling out of the sky in a ballistic reentry, the lifting body landed sort of like an airplane. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeling

Noun

The world’s richest person, MAGA donor, chainsaw waver, baby daddy and would-be Mars colonizer takes a thrashing.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
The teenager, who has excelled for The Union by scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists in MLS this season, was called up to his first national camp this month and made his international debut in the US’ 4-1 thrashing of Peru on Saturday.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of thrashing

Verb

Strong winds, pounding seas and coastal flood threats will be near-constant companions for parts of North Carolina up through the Chesapeake Bay area this weekend as a nor’easter that’s expected to linger well into next week starts to take shape.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
You were expected, at the very least, to put up a good fight, and the dance could get real ugly real quick—I’ve witnessed aunties and uncles pounding their fists on the table in a yelling war and checks being ripped straight down the middle.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of pounding

Noun

The butt of the Axvant is designed to double as a mallet, mostly for knocking in tent stakes and taking care of other basic, non-precision hammering.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026
Coastal flooding and hammering winds are already underway from North Carolina and Virginia to New Jersey, the start of a dayslong coastal flood and erosion threat that will extend into New England as the storm ramps up.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of hammering

Verb

Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Carter is licking his wounds after the rest of the tribe sent Ana home in a blindside.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of licking

Verb

Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers, the analysis found.

— Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.

— Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lashing

Noun

Box score line of the century Buried in the rubble of the Yankees’ latest bludgeoning of the now-you-see-them-now-you-don’t Boston Red Sox were two of the wackiest back-to-back box-score lines in postseason history.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Over in the crumbling core of Lockland Manor, Tom’s good-guy veneer slips as Kylie develops the same suspicions that led to Ian’s bludgeoning.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of bludgeoning

Verb

Two of the strongest El Niños in the last 75 years, in 1982-83 and 1997-98, were associated with extensive damage to the Southern California coast, battering homes, flooding streets and damaging piers.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
The region is still at risk of flash floods as the storm's remnants were expected to continue dumping rain and bringing wind gusts through the weekend, the weather service said, adding that high surf would continue battering coastal communities.

— Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of battering

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“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pummeling

noun

verb

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