boxing

verb

Definition of boxingnext
present participle of box
as in punching
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boxing The cemetery is home to Emmett Till, singing icon Dinah Washington and boxing great Ezzard Charles. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 That's my thought and my expectation, but this is boxing and anything can happen. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Later, Young tossed a jump-ball to wideout Brycen Tremayne in the end zone with cornerback Corey Thornton boxing him out. — Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026 One of Hooper’s matches involved him boxing icon Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali. — Corey Davis, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 17 July 2026 The Washington Post took a look at how the designation risks boxing the US out of Syria’s recovery. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 July 2026 Instead of scoring points, Richard was more focused on making the right defensive rotation, making passes and boxing out. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 On Tuesday morning, a dozen volunteers joined Montano on the street outside of her restaurant, packing and boxing an influx of supplies — from sanitary supplies to nonperishable foods — dropped off by passing vehicles. — Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 The actor says he's become 'hooked' on boxing with the help of a coach. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxing
  1. punching
  2. hitting
  3. knocking
  4. slapping
  5. slamming
  6. smacking
  7. banging
  8. clapping
Verb
  • Background on the case On May 30, Shelby Police Officer Karson Hyder was captured repeatedly punching 34-year-old Cherie Moore during an arrest.
    — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Salgado is accused of approaching the man, taunting him to start a fight and punching him in the face, police said.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • Jordan Walker extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the fourth streak of 10 of more games for him this season.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Lee gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the fifth by hitting his career-high ninth home run of the season, a solo shot that nearly landed in McCovey Cove.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • Every follow, every comment, every DM is someone knocking on the door.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Elarms-Orr didn’t think Kincaid was down and laid a sizable hit on the tight end, knocking him to the ground again.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • Yan bounded off the mound, slapping his hand against his glove several times, after the inning ended.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Once again, Yan did the whole jumping, landing, ground-slapping thing (no slide this time though).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • But, Alexanian says, policymakers also worry about overregulation slamming the breaks on useful research.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
  • At that moment, another car came in to merge and seemingly failed to notice the other vehicle stalled, slamming into the back of it.
    — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • Where grass grows right up to a tree’s trunk, the lawnmower will inevitably follow, banging and chipping the bark or scalping bark off roots that are exposed above the soil.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In several municipalities, particularly in Havana, residents staged neighborhood protests after blackouts lasting more than 48 hours, banging pots and pans and burning garbage piled up on street corners.
    — Andrea Rodriguez, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • Syrians gathered around the court in Damascus, chanting, clapping and waving the Syrian flag as news of the sentences spread.
    — Kinda Makieh, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The teams were the townspeople, clapping for a wardrobe nobody could actually see.
    — Jeremy Macliver, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of clapping

Browse Nearby Words

box (in)
boxing
boxing (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Boxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxing. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on boxing

Nglish: Translation of boxing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boxing

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