sucker punching

verb

present participle of sucker punch
as in knocking down

Related Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punching
  1. knocking down
  2. pushing
  3. dumping
  4. stabbing
  5. kicking
  6. slashing
  7. flailing
  8. switching
Verb
  • Winds gusted up to 80 miles per hour, bowing palm trees and knocking down power lines that sparked the fires.
    — Angus Chen, STAT, 22 July 2026
  • The pair of earthquakes struck on June 24, knocking down buildings, sending residents fleeing for safety and trapping some survivors under the rubble for days.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of knocking down
Verb
  • Nvidia’s chips are essential to AI data centers, pushing its business to stratospheric heights.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • Chawinga is busy pushing Black excellence for her own country, Malawi, by leading the nation’s women’s soccer team in its Women’s Africa Cup of Nations debut.
    — PJ Green July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of pushing
Verb
  • Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that Italy and Greece are each sending two Canadair water-dumping airplanes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • Those programs are both notorious for dumping big money into their football teams, so just having an expensive roster doesn't always mean immediate success.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of dumping
Verb
  • Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to stabbing four University of Idaho students to death and waived his right to appeal, is now seeking post-conviction relief by claiming his plea was false.
    — Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
  • Blackouts and seizures, tremors that became full-body shakes, stabbing chest pains.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • In the video, the person is seen getting into a defensive stance and then laughing and kicking at the sea lion, which then turned and scooted away.
    — Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026
  • Garcés was sent off shortly after the break for kicking the ball away after a foul.
    — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of kicking
Verb
  • Hochul is speeding public sector hiring to provide government services more effectively, while Mamdani is slashing red tape for small businesses to help working people thrive.
    — Ryder Kessler, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • Related Articles Now, Adidas is getting ready to turn its attention to fall, but not before slashing prices on some of its top footwear, clothing and accessories online.
    — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 25 July 2026
Definition of slashing
Verb
  • Flushed and flailing during Schauf’s final countdown, her gum-chewing getting a little more exaggerated with each second, Cooper quipped that her handiwork might be better sealed under a closed casket.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • As if on command, the lefty struck out Carter Jensen on three fastballs and then sent Lane Thomas flailing at a changeup for another punchout.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of flailing
Verb
  • In fact, the United States mined magnesium from seawater for 50 years before switching to imports in the 90s.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
  • When Tagger was 10, coaches dissuaded her from switching from two hands to one.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of switching
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

sucker punches
sucker punching
suckers
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Cite this Entry

“Sucker punching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punching. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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