as in punches
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
1
as in pierces
to make a hole or series of holes in
a nail punctured the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stabs
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.
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Recent Examples of punctures
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
29 June 2026
Sure enough, all tires were up and there were no obvious punctures or hissing sounds.
—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
28 June 2026
Note that good quality options are made of polyvinyl chloride, nylon or polyester fabric that resists tears and punctures.
—
Bestreviews,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
This design allows for enhanced thermal stability and resistance to physical damage such as punctures.
—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
The minimally invasive technique uses small needle punctures instead of larger surgical incisions, which can help reduce pain and speed up recovery for patients.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
In addition to the two smaller punctures, there were also dents and creases.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
After parking at the gate, the plane was found to have three punctures on the fuselage.
—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
4 June 2026
Deep punctures can allow entry points for bacteria, so check your produce occasionally and use any bruised or damaged items early to keep them from spoiling.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
If a foreign object punctures the tread or sidewall, your tire can deflate slowly or quickly, depending on the puncture.
—
Jason Fogelson,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
In worst-case scenarios, the ice punctures the hull.
—
Deena Theresa,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
Joel, a 19‑year veteran, begins pursuing after another officer deploys a spike strip and punctures the Challenger's tires.
—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
The narrower design, combined with the several sharp teeth, effectively punctures through tough pepper skin and hard fruits to cut out the core and remove seeds in a matter of seconds.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.
—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.
—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
The boy bore no signs of scrapes or skin punctures, so the family initially didn’t take him for medical care.
—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
29 June 2026
Sure enough, all tires were up and there were no obvious punctures or hissing sounds.
—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
28 June 2026
Note that good quality options are made of polyvinyl chloride, nylon or polyester fabric that resists tears and punctures.
—
Bestreviews,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
This design allows for enhanced thermal stability and resistance to physical damage such as punctures.
—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
The minimally invasive technique uses small needle punctures instead of larger surgical incisions, which can help reduce pain and speed up recovery for patients.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
In addition to the two smaller punctures, there were also dents and creases.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
After parking at the gate, the plane was found to have three punctures on the fuselage.
—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
4 June 2026
Deep punctures can allow entry points for bacteria, so check your produce occasionally and use any bruised or damaged items early to keep them from spoiling.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Verb
Commentary and opinions In his latest column, Michael Hiltzik punctures the myth of Alan Greenspan, whose policies gave us the Great Recession.
—
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
If a foreign object punctures the tread or sidewall, your tire can deflate slowly or quickly, depending on the puncture.
—
Jason Fogelson,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
In worst-case scenarios, the ice punctures the hull.
—
Deena Theresa,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
Joel, a 19‑year veteran, begins pursuing after another officer deploys a spike strip and punctures the Challenger's tires.
—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
The narrower design, combined with the several sharp teeth, effectively punctures through tough pepper skin and hard fruits to cut out the core and remove seeds in a matter of seconds.
—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.
—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.
—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctures
Noun
-
Rey exploded on Ethan with 10-count punches, but a tilt-a-whirl was countered by Page with a sitout faceplant.
-
Members of Rita's loyalty program who use the Rita’s Ice app will get double loyalty punches with a purchase of the treat.
Verb
-
And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?
-
Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear.
Verb
-
Kara talks her out of it, and when Ruthye walks away, Kara turns back to Krem and stabs him multiple times with a sword.
-
On cue, a Frey leaps out and stabs Robb’s pregnant wife Talisa (Oona Chaplin) in the stomach, and a volley of crossbow arrows lay into Robb and his friends.
Noun
-
Some waving flags, others wiping away tears, thousands have gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s former supreme leader.
-
In rare cases, extreme pressure can cause tears in the esophagus.
Verb
-
He is hyperfocused on details and drills home teaching points relentlessly.
-
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.
Verb
-
Continue reading … OUT OF LEFT FIELD — Tom Hanks jokingly jabs MS NOW while speaking with reporter live on the network.
-
But following elite competition is nearly impossible, with subtle flicks and jabs practically invisible to the naked eye—and competitors hidden behind masks.
Noun
-
The perforations allow the wood to both absorb and balance sound, helping to reduce noise across any space.
-
The pants have perforations behind the knees, allowing air to pass through.
Verb
-
Caulk holes around plumbing and sewer lines where roaches are likely to enter.
-
Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.
Cite this Entry
“Punctures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctures. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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