pummel

verb

pum·​mel ˈpə-məl 

pummeled also pummelled; pummeling also pummelling ˈpə-mə-liŋ 

ˈpəm-liŋ

: pound, beat

Synonyms

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• hide
• lace
• lambaste
• lambast
• lash
• lather
• lick
• maul
• mess (up)
• paddle
• pelt
• pommel
• pound
• punch out
• rough (up)
• slate
• slog
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• thresh
• thump
• tromp
• wallop
• whale
• whip
• whop
• whap
• whup
• work over

Examples of pummel in a Sentence

pummeled the mugger with her fists until help arrived

Recent Examples on the Web

With Election Day approaching, North Carolina voters are being pummeled with mail, television ads and visits from former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as candidates make their final pitches to undecided voters here. —Lucille Sherman, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024

Ventura’s claims of the violence the ‘Me & U’ singer lived with from Combs over their more than decade long relationship were given further credence in May when 2016 hotel security footage of a towel wearing Combs pummeling Ventura in the corridor of an upmarket LA hotel was made public. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2024

On Monday, in the opener, the Rockets fell to the Utah Jazz, 122-113, after a dominant opening frame which saw their starting lineup pummel the Jazz. —Rahat Huq, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

Many of his song lyrics criticize the ineffective response by the government in Puerto Rico to crises like the major hurricanes that have pummeled the island in the last few years. —Alexander Hunter, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of pommel

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pummel

verb

pum·​mel ˈpəm-əl 

pummeled or pummelled; pummeling or pummelling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: pound entry 3 sense 2a, beat

knead and pummel the dough

2

: to defeat decisively

pummeled the competition