as in to assault
to take sudden, violent action against
the muggers pounced on the unsuspecting tourists as soon as they rounded the corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounce (on or upon)
Verb
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There are at least two amphibious ready groups — US Navy task forces for assaulting the shore from the sea.—
Jamie Tarabay,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026 -
Aljorna and Sosa-Celis denied assaulting the officer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mobs attacked television vans and set cars ablaze as overrun hospitals struggled to cope with scores of injured people.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The complication is not well understood but appears to be the result of the virus prompting the immune system to attack a certain protein that some brain cells produce.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During the war, Israeli forces raided a number of hospitals, detaining hundreds of staffers.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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The report said a Plano property associated with a suspect in the investigation at the adult bookstore was also raided.—
Suryatapa Chakraborty,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In August 2024, students stormed her official residence, smashing walls and looting its contents, forcing her to flee into neighboring India and exile.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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In their defense, the horn sounded, and the clock showed zeroes, so legions of Tar Heel blue stormed the court.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2024, famine had struck five other areas in North Darfur and also Sudan's Nuba Mountains region.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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Three months ago, GE Vernova struck a $50 million partnership with MIT, covering research funding, graduate student fellowships, internships, and professional development programs for its own executives.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Pounce (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pounce%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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