as in fisticuffs
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Recent Examples of punch-up
That said, the negative reputation surrounding the last lines in Jones’ thorny adaptation — a punch-up from Ellison’s original text that’s meaner and more sexist, no doubt — seems outsized.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 July 2025
Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved.
—David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Of the new cast additions, only Ayoade is doing anything funny, but Xeni’s pretentious banter could have used a writerly punch-up from somebody like Richard Ayoade.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Oscar promo did end up being released, with the main concept intact but minus those punch-ups.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
In the hands of the endlessly inventive comedian, the tale of a boy who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and seeks out fame and fortune becomes a madcap delight complete with a zingy script, cartoonish punch-ups, collapsing sets, and a heady dose of magical realism.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved.
—David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 July 2025
Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved.
—David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Of the new cast additions, only Ayoade is doing anything funny, but Xeni’s pretentious banter could have used a writerly punch-up from somebody like Richard Ayoade.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The Oscar promo did end up being released, with the main concept intact but minus those punch-ups.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
In the hands of the endlessly inventive comedian, the tale of a boy who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and seeks out fame and fortune becomes a madcap delight complete with a zingy script, cartoonish punch-ups, collapsing sets, and a heady dose of magical realism.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved.
—David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch-up
Noun
-
But after most fans filed out of the stadium, some San Diego supporters appeared to approach the visitors’ section, and multiple fistfights erupted — some dangerously close to the railing above the lower bowl.—
Mark Zeigler,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
-
After an exchange of words, the two got into a fistfight.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
The game itself was a sloppy slugfest, with both teams combining for 31 turnovers (Magic Johnson coughed it up no fewer than seven times, with two of those fumbles occurring in the final minute) and the Celtics shooting 39.5% from the field.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
11 July 2025
-
In our interview, Sheeraz called him an underrated boxer, which is rare praise from a rising British star, and one that suggests this won’t just be a slugfest.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
How Iran responds next could shift the fragile balance between confrontation and peace.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
-
Midas kills Araña after a confrontation fueled by accusations of betrayal.—
Time,
Time,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
The early Saturday morning melee on the corner of Fourth Street and Elm Street, which caused a national outcry after being circulated on social media, took place outside a popular nightclub called LoVe and the late-night restaurant next door.—
Greg Wehner , Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
29 July 2025
-
González Gutiérrez realized that the melee was taking place in MacArthur Park, directly across the street from the consulate.—
Geraldo Cadava,
New Yorker,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
But back in the 2010s, Kershaw was a dominant strikeout pitcher who recorded at least 200 punch-outs in a season seven times during the ten-year span from 2010 to 2019.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
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The lefty was able to work his way out of trouble each time, first striking out Ozuna to end the third before getting a pair of punch-outs to end the fourth after initially putting two on with nobody out.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
Police in Cincinnati are investigating a viral video that shows what appears to be a violent brawl in the downtown section of the city.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
28 July 2025
-
The match was a violent and bloody brawl between two of the era's biggest stars.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The quarterback then took it up a notch, challenging fans to a shotgun duel near the 17th tee.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
-
More encouraging still is how seamlessly Carreras slotted into that position against Atletico, completing 74 of his 78 passes, winning all eight of his ground duels and defending the wide spaces well.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch-up. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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