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 actor says he's become 'hooked' on boxing with the help of a coach. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 He’s also retired from boxing earlier this year. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 And those volunteers have been busy boxing them up and shipping them off for delivers to Venezuela. — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 26 June 2026 In Game 2, Wembanyama wrapped his arms around Jose Alvarado and moved him out of the way while boxing out for a rebound. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026 Usyk was given a scare by kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, who had competed only once in boxing previously, before finding a stoppage late in the 11th round in his previous outing and a rematch has been mooted. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 26 June 2026 In a landmark 1998 complaint, the Department of Justice accused Microsoft of illegally tying its dominant Windows operating system to its Internet Explorer browser, boxing out competitors. — Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 1 June 2026 After training under boxing trainer Carmen Graziano and pursuing a professional boxing career in New Jersey, Brown later shifted his focus to acting and moved to New York to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 Wrapping up the selection are the Slovak coming-of-age drama Cowgirl by Michal Blaško (Victim) and Austrian director Sebastian Brauneis’ boxing biography Hansi about Hans Orsolics, which captures 1960s Vienna. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 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
  • Halty embraces the way Senda Athletics is punching above its weight as a sportswear brand in a tournament full of global brands and stars.
    — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • An impromptu blind date with a handsome rapist ends with Esther punching him square in the nose, his blood gushing through her fingers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Definition of punching
Verb
  • Besides hitting their price target — about $350 per square foot — Talbot and his wife, Marisol, were taken with the modern design with a 14-foot clerestory ceiling.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • To the moon All the political developments of the last 24 hours have not stopped stocks, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting 53,000 for the first time ever.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of hitting
Verb
  • And take the Exit Readiness Quiz to understand exactly where the gaps are before any business buyer comes knocking.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2026
Definition of knocking
Verb
  • There was briefly some concern earlier this year that Chestnut wouldn’t be able to participate in the 2026 competition after he was arrested for allegedly slapping a man in an Indiana bar.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Chestnut competed in the event while serving a 180-day probation sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from drunkenly slapping a man in an Indiana bar earlier this year.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of slapping
Verb
  • Prosecutors allege Clay intentionally drove his car onto the sidewalk, sped toward a crowd of pedestrians and hit eight of them before slamming into a gate.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Paul has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.
    — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of slamming
Verb
  • Deputies responded to a report of a driver smacking his car into a guardrail in front of The Bridge Restaurant before driving away, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2026
  • As the match got away from her in the second set and the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd became increasingly hostile, Andreeva fully unraveled, smacking another ball towards the roof and asking members of her box to leave.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Definition of smacking
Verb
  • And on bikes no-one sane would ever consider banging around a racetrack on.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • After the game, Haaland led the players with a Norwegian row at midfield, banging a drum with a giant smile on his face.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of banging
Verb
  • On Monday against the Phoenix Mercury, Clark spent the game peeved at the officials and picked up her fifth technical after clapping in an antagonizing manner toward a rival.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • This was not the first time this season the two-time All-Star has been seen clapping toward other players or officials during a game.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 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 7 Jul. 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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