sucker punching

verb

present participle of sucker punch
as in knocking down

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sucker punching
  1. knocking down
  2. pushing
  3. dumping
  4. stabbing
  5. kicking
  6. slashing
  7. flailing
  8. switching
Verb
  • Last week, Ukraine ran out of Patriot interceptors – one of the few defensive weapons capable of knocking down a ballistic missile – leaving it far more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As a nation, the United States is moving toward knocking down longstanding walls separating religion and government, often ruling in favor of expanding the rights of religious groups.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocking down
Verb
  • These higher-than-usual high tides are supercharged by winds blowing onshore, pushing more seawater on land.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • For Jeffries to get a chance to take the speaker’s gavel, Democrats must attain a net gain of three seats, pushing their numbers to at least 218 -- a simple majority.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of pushing
Verb
  • However, throwing it back over the fence could create another dispute, particularly if doing so amounts to dumping debris on your neighbor’s property.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts are perking up about CoreWeave, even though investors are dumping shares and interest rates are rising in the economy.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dumping
Verb
  • He was charged Tuesday night with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for stabbing Nobles, cops said.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … HATE PROBE — NYC rabbi stabbing suspect accused of attacking another Jewish man hours earlier.
    — , FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • On May 14, 2022, Kirkman drove to the home of Ortega and Amaya before kicking down their door and shooting the couple, Payette County Prosecutor Mike Duke said in court, the Statesman previously reported.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Chun-Li has this crazy fight sequence with three of her Interpol bosses, and then kicking [Kyle Mooney’s] Marvin in the balls was the end of that day.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of kicking
Verb
  • Ukraine has attacked several Russian oil refineries and fuel depots, slashing Russia’s diesel exports by 75%, according to CNBC.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Their efforts focus on dismantling measures supporting transgender populations, particularly by restricting gender-neutral bathroom access and slashing dedicated welfare programs and specialized healthcare services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of slashing
Verb
  • Seventh inning —That was an at-bat from the last season version of Pages, flailing at a pitch way out of the zone.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The second-best moment came in Ireland to start this season, when UNC held on to beat what now looks like a flailing TCU team in a rematch.
    — David Ubben, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of flailing
Verb
  • The celebrities sucked up a lot of air, and so the show leaned in, switching to all-celebrity casts.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic’s launch of Claude Duet may be partly defensive, giving Claude Pro and Max users a way to hand off more of their daily tasks without switching to a rival’s assistant.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of switching
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.

Browse Nearby Words

sucker punches
sucker punching
suckers
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Cite this Entry

“Sucker punching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sucker%20punching. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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