pummeled

verb

variants also pummelled
past tense of pummel
as in pounded
to strike repeatedly pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

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 pummeled Destructive tornadoes and drenching storms pummeled the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including two waterspouts that came ashore in the New York City area. — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 Franks reached the goal line, leapt in the air, trapped the pass to his chest and got pummeled by the Jaguars linebacker in coverage — he was crushed to the point his helmet flew off in the melee. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 It's been nearly a week since heavy rains from a likely derecho pummeled the Midwest and displaced roughly 1,000 people across Indiana. — John Tufts, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2026 Israeli forces have also pummelled Syria with hundreds of airstrikes in recent years, predominantly targeting Syrian army assets to render the facilities unusable by the new government, which is run by former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Ukraine's drones have pummeled the giant depots belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, burning billions of dollars’ worth of merchandise and bringing the war home to the broad public. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Báez pummeled Cubs starter Matt Boyd’s 93-mph fastball and sent the Cardinals’ dugout into a frenzy. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Our trees have been downed, our houses pummeled and our spirits tanked. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Within a year of being pummeled by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Irpin’s prestigious State Tax University had been mostly repaired. — Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pummeled
  1. pounded
  2. licked
  3. lashed
  4. whipped
  5. battered
  6. pelted
  7. attacked
  8. knocked
Verb
  • Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Tommy pounded away behind the kit, which rose roughly 12 feet into the air.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pounded
Verb
  • Tuxedo kitten Paolina bounced onto my chest and licked my fingers.
    — Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of licked
Verb
  • Holmes attempted to ask a follow-up, but Trump lashed out at her.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • EDTAugust 17, 2026 This weekend, Hawaii was lashed by a rare hurricane, as Lala’s eye passed just 20 miles south of the Big Island’s southern tip on Saturday.
    — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lashed
Verb
  • Spread remaining 1 cup whipped topping over pie; garnish with additional lime zest.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Howling winds whipped palm trees and waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff from relentless rain that blew nearly sideways.
    — Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • Russia has repeatedly battered the Ukrainian power grid since its all-out invasion more than four years ago.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii as Category 1 hurricane Thousands in Hawaii remain without power on Monday, as forecasters warn the storm's aftermath could trigger flooding, mudslides and hazardous ocean conditions.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of battered
Verb
  • Snow crews had to leap into action early Wednesday at the Kansas City Downtown Airport – Wheeler Field after thunderstorms pelted the airport and covered it taxiways with several inches of hail.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The boat bobs, wind fills your plastic poncho like a balloon, you’re pelted with water, and the only conceivable reaction is to grip the railing and shriek with delight.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of pelted
Verb
  • Evidence publicly presented in the Clancy case indicates Lindsay was the only adult at the family home when investigators believe the children were attacked.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Defense Ministry in Bucharest said that so far this year, Russia had attacked targets close to Romania's frontier 54 times, representing a significant increase on the 28 attacks close to the border in all of 2025.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacked
Verb
  • The highlight of the two going up against each other came when Shough threw a ball up for grabs along the right sideline that Olave came down with, but Downs knocked it out at the last second.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Police surrounded the area, knocked repeatedly and called Brown by name, but no one answered.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of knocked

Browse Nearby Words

pummel
pummeled
pummeling
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Cite this Entry

“Pummeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pummeled. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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