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

Ecuador has been pummeled by an extraordinary drought, exacerbated by global warming, that has engulfed much of South America, drying rivers and reservoirs and putting the country’s power grid on the brink of collapse. —José María León Cabrera, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024

Russian missiles have been pummeling Ukrainian cities, including a massive attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other cities on Christmas Day. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024

This storm arrives, in due course, and Romy is pummeled. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024

Jim Miller submitted Jackson in the first round in a bounce-back performance after he was pummeled by Bobby Green at UFC 300 in April. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 22 Dec. 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