1
as in piercing
to make a hole or series of holes in
a nail punctured the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stabbing
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
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Recent Examples of puncturing
Testing is also challenging, as finding a leak requires puncturing the spinal canal, which can create new leaks.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Pinjar thus starts out with Hamida’s disgust, puncturing notions of maternal affection revered in mainstream South Asian (and other) narratives.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum.
—Daniele Hamamdjian, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025
Wi-Fi 7's puncturing capability is designed to isolate the interference, enabling devices to use the remainder of the channel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Pinjar thus starts out with Hamida’s disgust, puncturing notions of maternal affection revered in mainstream South Asian (and other) narratives.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum.
—Daniele Hamamdjian, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025
Wi-Fi 7's puncturing capability is designed to isolate the interference, enabling devices to use the remainder of the channel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puncturing
Verb
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Even better, Liu does it all while flaunting her signature bleached halo-dye hairstyle and smiley piercing.—
Jasmine Wynn,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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Her diamond dermal piercing was the perfect finishing touch for the emo girl-lite moment.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mohammed Ahmad Hussein al-Halsi was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years behind bars for stabbing elderly women.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Another Jefferson County circuit judge, Jessica Green, last year drew local and national criticism after granting shock probation to a 32-year-old man accused of abducting a mother and two children and stabbing the mother during a bank robbery.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hurley and his staff had been drilling the team on its areas of weakness as the close calls kept coming.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Miles came out aggressive, scoring 11 of TCU’s 19 points in the first quarter, including drilling a 3-pointer.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mourinho shot off down the touchline, fingers jabbing the air, hugging a ballboy in jubilation.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Though none of the celebrity moms in question have publicly spoken about the drama, earlier this week, Koma, whom has also produced several of Duff's songs in the past, shared a meme to his Instagram Story jabbing Tisdale French's piece in The Cut.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s impressive for a rebuilding team, but is anyone picking the Ducks over the Oilers in a playoff series?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Only Nick Brinkerhoff is picking the Seahawks to win in blowout fashion, by a score of 34-17.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Telltale Signs of Rotary Motion The re-examination revealed unmistakable evidence that this was no simple awl meant for poking holes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Garlic is a kitchen staple for many, but spotting a green sprout poking out of a clove can raise questions about food safety.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some sounds could indicate structural changes, so keep an eye on wall cracks and look out for sticking doors and windows.—
Jessica Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The goal was to give the family’s embryo—Guojun’s sperm and an anonymous donor’s egg—the best odds of sticking during the transfer, which was scheduled for July at Western Fertility Institute, a clinic in Los Angeles.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puncturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puncturing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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