variants
also pummelling
as in thrashing
Related Words
Relevance
variants
also pummelling
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
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
On April 8, 2025, Wrobleski endured an eight-run pummeling by the Washington Nationals and was immediately sent down to triple-A Oklahoma City.
—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Stout, bluesy guitar and a pummeling rhythm lead to McBryde turning in a ferocious, fearless vocal, singing about a litany of vices and urges that stay steeped her bloodline.
—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Vargas was among a group of three men being sought for pummeling the cab parked at 36th St and Seventh Ave.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
All of it will be accentuated by swirling spotlights, and perhaps even sweat and blood pouring off the fighters pummeling each other.
—
ABC News,
11 June 2026
With a pummelling rhythm and howling guitar, the new song from fata morgana makes a desperate race against the doom loop.
—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
10 June 2026
Protests outside the gates have shown activists pummeling cars, impeding the exits and in some cases getting hurled out of the way after collisions with vehicles attempting to speed away from the violent activists.
—
Eric MacK,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
In keeping with the show’s defiance of mortality, Lee and Lifeson seemed to have almost aged in reverse since 2015, with Lifeson notably trimmer and musically nimble, and Lee pummeling his bass while skipping around the stage faster than any 72-year-old should be able to manage.
—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
In his first at-bat Tuesday night, Betts fell behind 0-2 to Rockies starter Kyle Freeland before pummeling a heater in the zone to center field for a two-run blast.
—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Surging food costs and fuel prices are pummeling Maine's struggling groundfishing industry.
—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
23 May 2026
Noun
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
On April 8, 2025, Wrobleski endured an eight-run pummeling by the Washington Nationals and was immediately sent down to triple-A Oklahoma City.
—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Stout, bluesy guitar and a pummeling rhythm lead to McBryde turning in a ferocious, fearless vocal, singing about a litany of vices and urges that stay steeped her bloodline.
—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
Behested payments make an excellent target for pummeling the presidential contender.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Vargas was among a group of three men being sought for pummeling the cab parked at 36th St and Seventh Ave.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
All of it will be accentuated by swirling spotlights, and perhaps even sweat and blood pouring off the fighters pummeling each other.
—
ABC News,
11 June 2026
With a pummelling rhythm and howling guitar, the new song from fata morgana makes a desperate race against the doom loop.
—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
10 June 2026
Protests outside the gates have shown activists pummeling cars, impeding the exits and in some cases getting hurled out of the way after collisions with vehicles attempting to speed away from the violent activists.
—
Eric MacK,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
In keeping with the show’s defiance of mortality, Lee and Lifeson seemed to have almost aged in reverse since 2015, with Lifeson notably trimmer and musically nimble, and Lee pummeling his bass while skipping around the stage faster than any 72-year-old should be able to manage.
—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
In his first at-bat Tuesday night, Betts fell behind 0-2 to Rockies starter Kyle Freeland before pummeling a heater in the zone to center field for a two-run blast.
—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Surging food costs and fuel prices are pummeling Maine's struggling groundfishing industry.
—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeling
Noun
-
The Blågult had started so well, mind you, with a 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
-
Jonathan David had a hat trick in last Thursday’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.
Verb
-
Be mesmerized by the dazzling lasers and pulse-pounding tunes from the movie in this unforgettable experience.
-
An apartment surveillance video captured a man pounding on the window, before Davis gave him a key.
Noun
-
There is no hammering out a return with another team because the parameters and compensation are outlined based on the average annual value offered.
-
During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard.
Verb
-
But the Carolinas have their own ways of making barbecue finger-licking.
-
France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, who each already have four goals in the tournament, will be licking their lips.
Noun
-
Whether the bashing has any immediate political implications for the lawmakers remains to be seen.
-
But more recently, Japan-bashing has become the core of a strident Chinese nationalism, with disastrous consequences.
Verb
-
Unfortunately, this can lead to some individuals lashing out in response to their own insecurities, hate and low bar of aptitude, which is confirmed by the tenor of the attacks.
-
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster is apologizing after lashing out at a critic.
Noun
-
Norma Jane Lumpkin, whose long hair hung past her waist, was four decades into a life sentence for her role in the 1981 bludgeoning death of her husband.
-
This game was expected to be a taut preview of the gold-medal game but has turned into a bludgeoning.
Verb
-
Vanity Fair reported that he was sentenced to 60 days in jail after being convicted of misdemeanor battery against a girlfriend, and was later charged with battering his third wife, Joanna Ferrell.
-
In an effort to turn the tables on Russia’s grinding war of attrition, Ukrainian long-range drones have for months been battering targets, including oil production and energy facilities, behind the front line and deep inside Russia.
Cite this Entry
“Pummeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeling. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
