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
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Recent Examples of slugging
After Otto Lopez grounded out to third, slugging catcher Agustin Ramirez represented the tying run with one out.
—
Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Our family had spent the day knee-deep in Disillusionment Bay, gigging beach frogs and slugging fireweed tea.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Amadou Onana remained but, having been trailed as a third centre-back in pre-season to do a similar role as Kamara should Villa be without a right-footed centre-back, Emery decided to keep him slugging away in midfield.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
No one is quite sure because Tucker hit well for a stretch after the injury, which was not fully disclosed at the time, and then stopped slugging completely, with no home runs since July 17.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The New York Yankees seemed to unlock something at the plate on Tuesday, slugging nine home runs against the Tampa Bay Rays for the win.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Julio Rodriguez, who had some difficulty navigating center field at the small ballpark, scored on a Jorge Polanco single in the 4th to get the Mariners a run back before the Mets started slugging in the 5th and chased Kirby out of the game.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
Myers ended his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023, slugging three home runs in 37 games in the Queen City.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
The New York Yankees capped a busy week by trading star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees Friday while the Chicago Cubs landed slugging outfielder Kyle Tucker, a three-time All-Star, from the Houston Astros.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Our family had spent the day knee-deep in Disillusionment Bay, gigging beach frogs and slugging fireweed tea.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Amadou Onana remained but, having been trailed as a third centre-back in pre-season to do a similar role as Kamara should Villa be without a right-footed centre-back, Emery decided to keep him slugging away in midfield.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
No one is quite sure because Tucker hit well for a stretch after the injury, which was not fully disclosed at the time, and then stopped slugging completely, with no home runs since July 17.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The New York Yankees seemed to unlock something at the plate on Tuesday, slugging nine home runs against the Tampa Bay Rays for the win.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Julio Rodriguez, who had some difficulty navigating center field at the small ballpark, scored on a Jorge Polanco single in the 4th to get the Mariners a run back before the Mets started slugging in the 5th and chased Kirby out of the game.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
Myers ended his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023, slugging three home runs in 37 games in the Queen City.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
The New York Yankees capped a busy week by trading star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees Friday while the Chicago Cubs landed slugging outfielder Kyle Tucker, a three-time All-Star, from the Houston Astros.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugging
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Smith stretched as far as his body would allow, inadvertently hitting the splits in the process.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Taddese is on the ground, bent over, face down, as a man kicks him, and the woman who was pushed, dressed in a black jumpsuit and barefoot, gets up and begins punching him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Samirah, the central performer, entrances Billie—her lyrics punching over vibrating beats, her voice gritty and sultry.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All we were focused on was just containing him, knocking the pocket back, just trying to keep him in the pocket, and forcing the football.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
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No texts, no phone calls, no IMs—just walking over to their house, knocking on the door, and hanging out together?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Later that night Plumier demonstrates by swiftly slapping the limp green body of a bullfrog hard across his leg.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
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Tchervinski can be seen in one of videos of the incident slapping a Black man.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the middle, a president who promised to put both conflicts to bed – and whose talk of a Nobel Peace Prize is smacking up against the reality of the Gaza and Ukraine wars.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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Under the hot summer sun, players drip sweat after repeatedly smacking into each other during long, physical practices.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Center fielder Lawrence Butler was the first player to score, slamming a ball into center field during his first at-bat to lead off the first inning.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The instruments detected gravitational waves, faint ripples in space-time produced by the two black holes slamming into each other.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She’s matched wonderfully by Cooke, who leans into her actual Manchester accent to give Cherry a stroppy, sarcastic bent and whose body looks absolutely banging wrapped in an array of oxblood, maroon, and cerise minidresses.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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From his head-banging guitar solo to his crisp, impressively precise vocals, Thomas delivered male R&B showmanship reminiscent of Maxwell or D’Angelo.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One end of the spectrum are stress fracture, which are very small, often described as hairline fractures that result from repetitive force and pounding to the bone over time.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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It’s typed with such pounding despair and fury that certain letters of the alphabet actually tear through the paper (this was an old, manual typewriter).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugging. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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