PUNCTURE Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

puncture 1 of 2

noun

ˈpəŋk-chər

Definition of puncture

as in prick

a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument a leak caused by several small punctures in the rubber gasket

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

puncture

2 of 2

verb

as in to pierce

to make a hole or series of holes in a nail punctured the tire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stab

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 puncture

Noun

Lemmo Lemmo's gone with a 960-Wh semi-solid state battery, which reportedly allows for up to 110 miles (180 km) of range and won't go up in flames from punctures or thermal runaway incidents. — New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026 By the time Fowler gave up trying to put one in Carruthers, DiLiberato could hear her client moaning and see blood oozing out of his puncture wounds. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

Executioners spent more than two hours trying to find a vein, possibly puncturing his bladder before giving up. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026 Like the earlier series, this one readily acknowledges how real-world horrors can puncture even a relative safe space like Hillman. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puncture

Recent Examples of Synonyms for puncture

Noun

The farm offers a punch card to residents for $18 and is good for up to 14 punches or around 21 bags of debris.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Hadribeaj attacked the body early, crouching beneath Fundora’s punches and landing looping shots over the top.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of punch

Verb

In the narrative to has unfolded from authorities and passenger accounts, Machchhar had the presence of mind to open the locked door of the cockpit after he was stabbed.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Two men accused of stabbing an off-duty NYPD detective pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.

— Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of stab

Noun

In a recent rare interview with chum Matthew McConaughey, Bryan suggested that his songwriting-and-touring tear since leaving the Navy may be coming to a close soon.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
Last season, Steichen could point to Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles tear in Week 14 last year as the Colts' season unraveled.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of tear

Verb

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz drilled a 53-yard field goal in overtime to elevate Denver to a 17-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Public-health and environmental advocates have also raised concerns about drilling near communities, including potential air- and water-quality harms.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of drill

Verb

Rainbow continued to jab the secretary of health as his primary opposition throughout the parody of the Frank Loesser song.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Then, inside the death house, executioners struggled to find a vein, jabbing Pike with at least seven needles, according to her lawyers, one of whom watched in dismay.

— Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of jab

Noun

Testers dropped heavy weights from considerable heights onto the containers and used metal fangs to make stabs at perforation.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
If swallowed, the magnets can attract each other or metal objects inside the body, potentially causing intestinal perforations, twisting, blockages, blood poisoning, or death, the CPSC says.

— Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of perforation

Verb

Some, including the Idaho Potato Commission, swear that the way a baked potato is opened affects the texture, eschewing a knife for a fork to gently poke a plus sign into the surface.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
From ceviche and poke to pasta and tacos, the menu revolves around the catch of the day, which is sourced from local markets.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of poke

Browse Nearby Words

punctuating

puncture

punctured

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Puncture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puncture. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of puncture

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes