as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
he's a bit of a mess, but he says he bunged up the other guy in the fight even worse
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Recent Examples of bung up
Yeah, around Hampstead, driving people crazy with the whistle until it was bunged up and stopped by the sound department.
—
Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bung up
Verb
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The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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The park in Arlington features pulse-pounding water slides, relaxing lazy rivers, and family-friendly play areas.—
Natassia Paloma,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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That day, Riley had been editing a sequence in which Corvette sneaks into a San Francisco condo owned by Christie, her fashion idol, by hiding inside a coffee delivery cart.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Bugs also tend to hide inside packaging, seams, or even the food itself.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
Verb
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When the war began, a cornered Iran lashed out by attacking its neighbors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a 45-year-old coalition of energy-rich Arab monarchies including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
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Harris also shows us the burn scars that ripple up Racine’s arm and across Anaia’s face, textured skin that makes strangers blanch, to which Racine lashes out defensively.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Gather up dough scraps, reroll, and punch out more biscuits if needed.—
Claire Saffitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 May 2026
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The third frame was his sharpest, with Snell pitching around a two-out error from Kim and punching out Jorge Mateo on a curveball to end his night.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Ephemera is so often illustrative of the inner life of a character, a direct, beating correlative of the contents of their hearts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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The race in San Diego County has unnerved other Democrats, who saw Issa as easier to beat than a fresh GOP candidate — but aren’t always sure what to think about Campar-Najjar.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The movie industry was battered by the pandemic and increasing competition from the small screen.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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In the distance, an impressive railway bridge, its steel girders painted bright white, stretches across the shimmering landscape, apparently untouched by the US and Israeli strikes that battered and scarred parts of Iran earlier this year.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Verb
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There’s also a menu of small snacks, with mezzes like hummus, tzatziki, whipped feta, falafel, halloumi, artichoke and eggplant.—
Connie Ogle
May 15,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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The one-time Ducks first-round draft pick whipped a shot through traffic from just above the slot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bung up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bung%20up. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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