slug 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of slugnext
as in punch
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument one well aimed slug on the head knocked him out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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slug

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈsləg How to pronounce slug (audio)
1
as in snail
a lazy person he's always a slug in the morning, which is why he prefers to sleep late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sip
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time knocked back another slug of whiskey

Synonyms & Similar Words

slug

3 of 3

verb

as in to punch
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner she got so angry that she slugged the back of the chair and knocked it over

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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 slug
Noun
Watch for Summer Pests Check leaves and leaf axils weekly for mealybugs, aphids, and slugs. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2026 So, too, do simultaneous hermaphrodites, a collection of creatures that includes most species of land snails, slugs, and earthworms. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Verb
Consider using an organic, commercial product made with any of these plants, or grow these herbs around the perimeter of your garden or next to crops and flowers that slugs frequently feed. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026 Rice is slugging almost 100 points higher than Kurtz, though the A’s slugger’s ability to get on base has their OPS numbers in a comparable range. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for slug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slug
  1. punch
  2. snail
  3. sip
  4. hit
  5. blow
  6. drone
  7. gulp
  8. slap
Noun
  • The throat punch is just the latest in a string of controversial moments, where fans became concerned over Clark's wellbeing and treatment by other players.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Professional wrestling violence is normally scripted, with both parties agreeing to hit each other with punches, kicks, throws and sometimes weapons to tell a violent story in the ring or on camera.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Calendula Calendula’s fleshy leaves, stems, and flowers also draw slugs and snails away from other crops and can be interplanted in food or flower gardens for natural slug control.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
  • The game was crawling along at a snail’s pace with a rare boundary here and there.
    — Mohsin Kamal, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Definition of snail
Noun
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Inside at Revel Lounge, half the après crowd sips cocktails in robes and slippers while the other half have logged back on with work and are huddled away in the bar’s many discreet nooks and corners.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of sip
Verb
  • Against Cardinals’ starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore, the Braves mustered just one hit and one run through five innings of an eventual 5-3 loss.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Thomas had hit a leadoff double, but Michael Massey, Salvador Perez and John Rave failed to drive him in.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of hit
Noun
  • Vingegaard’s victory at the Giro d’Italia in May, allied with Wout Van Aert’s cathartic win at Paris-Roubaix, has delivered two key objectives but the surprise departure of head of racing Grischa Niermann to Lidl-Trek was a blow.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • The war is now concentrated in the Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile states, with drone warfare causing 60% of casualties, according to UNICEF.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The purchase reflects a broader effort to improve protection at military bases as unauthorized drone activity becomes more common.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
Definition of drone
Noun
  • Given the construction of the bracket, any African team that has its eye on a quarterfinals bid will likely have to push through the likes of Argentina (gulp) or England (woof), France (le woof) or Spain (yipes).
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026
  • It’s not made explicitly clear if these seemingly sympathetic kids are actually his worst bullies, but Machado-Graner’s eyes, lip twitch, and throat gulp in this short sequence tell a whole story in themselves.
    — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
Definition of gulp
Verb
  • Some of them slapped strict limits on all gas stations; in others, gas station chains limited how much fuel could be bought.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Actor Orlando Brown slapped recording artist Ray J in the face with a wad of cash.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
Definition of slap

Phrases Containing slug

Browse Nearby Words

sludgy
slug
slugabed
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Cite this Entry

“Slug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slug. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slug

Nglish: Translation of slug for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slug

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