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 Adam Rodriguez as Ruben Chapa, a trainer at the local El Centro boxing gym. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026 Eubank Jr was seven years older than Benn, five years further into his professional career and, more pertinently, boxing at middleweight, three weight classes higher than super-lightweight Benn. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Pausing midway through a meal to check in with your hunger is a good rule of thumb, and boxing half of a meal at a restaurant to bring home can also help. — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 If, as Jimmy Connors has said, tennis is boxing at ninety feet—a lonely battle of wills that punishes the slightest lapse in concentration—Eala’s southpaw forehand drives resemble Pacquiao’s blazing left hooks. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 He was stripped of his heavyweight title, barred from boxing for more than three years and convicted of draft evasion. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 But for Gonzales, the gym has always been about more than boxing. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing world champion, and Panettiere began dating in 2009 and got engaged in October 2013. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 The cemetery is home to Emmett Till, singing icon Dinah Washington and boxing great Ezzard Charles. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxing
  1. punching
  2. hitting
  3. knocking
  4. slapping
  5. slamming
  6. smacking
  7. banging
  8. clapping
Verb
  • Then left tackle Alaric Jackson was suspended by the NFL for punching a Bills player on the field after the game.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • When substitute Gleiker Mendoza sealed the win with a superb shot into the top corner, Turan ran up the touchline, punching the air in delight.
    — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • Antetokounmpo was everywhere, throwing a down a poster dunk over Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, hitting pull-up threes and assisting on a bunch of the Heat’s three-pointers.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Each draw is tied to Anthropic hitting certain compute capacity milestones.
    — Ashley Capoot,Jordan Novet,Annie Palmer,Lora Kolodny,Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • Video shared by NorCal Resist showed Moreida standing in the street recording an approaching SUV when its front-right corner struck him, knocking him to the pavement.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Coral Springs Police said 44-year-old Matthew John Ryan rammed a shopping cart with a dog inside into the menorah at Chabad of Coral Springs on North University Drive, knocking it completely over.
    — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • Intriguingly, this might not just be slapping boards into a plastic box.
    — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That incident involved Smith rushing the stage and slapping host Chris Rock with an open hand after the Oscars host made jokes about Jada Pinkett Smith.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • The familyâs legal team filed complaints targeting Iranian officials who bankrolled Hamas, slamming the ICC for double standards and demanding arrest warrants for the regime bosses backing the atrocity.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Alex Alvarado’s political action committee is behind the texts slamming Rodriguez in an apparent effort to help Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier stay in office.
    — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • But Varma and Shivam Dube (27) upped the ante in the final three overs by smacking 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • At first, there doesn’t seem to be much of a connection between the colorful, family-friendly world of Pokémon and the loud, head-banging techno genre.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Written by John Hughes, this tale about best pals Andie (Molly Ringwald) and Duckie (Jon Cryer) unfolds to a banging soundtrack and boasts a handful of scenes that remain generational signatures.
    — Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • About 75 people packed the room at Morning Star Community Center, often clapping and cheering in support of the criticism.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
  • At one point, the audience tentatively started clapping then quickly quieted back down.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of clapping

Browse Nearby Words

box (in)
boxing
boxing (in)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boxing

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