as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of slugging
But are the Red Sox a more complete team with a lineup that no longer features the slugging Rafael Devers, Bregman the ‘baseball rat,’ as Cora affectionately calls him, and southpaw slayer Rob Refsnyder?
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2026
He was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Houston in December 2024 that moved slugging prospect Cam Smith to the Astros.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Murakami, 26 in February, has been the top power hitter in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball the last several years, and that includes slugging 22 home runs in 56 games around elbow surgery and an oblique strain in 2025.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
After slugging three homers with 12 RBI during the Dodgers’ World Series run last year, Hernández took Max Scherzer deep in the bottom of the second inning tonight, which gives him five home runs during this year’s playoff run.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
After a scoreless sixth inning from both teams, the Dodgers came alive in the seventh as All-Star catcher Will Smith launched a solo home run, and slugging third baseman Max Muncy hit a solo shot of his own.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Despite slugging seven home runs so far, Monday marked their first with a runner on base.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Power surge The Padres are slugging more lately.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
The Diamondbacks were deadline sellers, shipping slugging corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2026
He was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Houston in December 2024 that moved slugging prospect Cam Smith to the Astros.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Murakami, 26 in February, has been the top power hitter in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball the last several years, and that includes slugging 22 home runs in 56 games around elbow surgery and an oblique strain in 2025.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
After slugging three homers with 12 RBI during the Dodgers’ World Series run last year, Hernández took Max Scherzer deep in the bottom of the second inning tonight, which gives him five home runs during this year’s playoff run.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
After a scoreless sixth inning from both teams, the Dodgers came alive in the seventh as All-Star catcher Will Smith launched a solo home run, and slugging third baseman Max Muncy hit a solo shot of his own.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Despite slugging seven home runs so far, Monday marked their first with a runner on base.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Power surge The Padres are slugging more lately.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
The Diamondbacks were deadline sellers, shipping slugging corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugging
Verb
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Meanwhile, bitcoin has dropped 50% since hitting a record high above $126,000 in October.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The car collided with the bicyclist before continuing another block and hitting the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market location in the Westwood neighborhood.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 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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Buzelis was still suspended midair when Collin Sexton backpedaled underneath the forward, knocking his legs backward to send the younger player crashing to the floor, stomach-first.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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That's when Palmer punched Simpson in the mouth, knocking him to the floor, court records say.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes the figure tries and fails to stand up, slapping itself with floppy, almost boneless limbs.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Shepard attached the head of a 6-iron golf club to his sample collecting tool and was recorded smacking a couple golf balls across the lunar landscape.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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In his defense, Barnett took the stand to say there was no murder plot and that Thomas extorted him for the money using physical violence – knocking out his teeth, injured his left shoulder, and smacking his private parts.—
Sydney Pereira,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The xAI-SpaceX merger is still fresh, AI fears have been slamming software stocks, and Moltbook—a social network for personal AI agents—blew up the Internet.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Heathcliff acts like a whiny little baby throughout this film, constantly throwing tantrums, running away, and slamming doors.—
Cazzie David,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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My ten-year-old granddaughter was marching and banging her little saucepan with a salad spoon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Online posts questioning the city’s account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With its newest release, Canadian RV specialist Leisure Travel Vans (LTV) adjusts focus from luxurious leisure to heart-pounding adventure travel.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
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But if Robert Icke’s pulse-pounding Broadway production is any indication, Sophocles’ 2,500-year-old Greek tragedy still has the ability to shock.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugging. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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