as in fisticuffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 punch-up
Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved.
—
David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Of the new cast additions, only Ayoade is doing anything funny, but Xeni’s pretentious banter could have used a writerly punch-up from somebody like Richard Ayoade.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Airline crew could not run the risk of a full-scale punch-up at 30,000ft.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Writers didn’t want to do punch-ups on potentially crummy AI scripts or have their words (or ideas) cannibalized by large language models that didn’t pay them a dime.
—Marah Eakin, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024
Reynolds apparently did punch-up on a balcony scene in the movie (though some counter those lines are also in 2016 Hoover novel).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2024
What was supposed to be a quick punch-up gig for a two-week Encores!
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024
Live, the band’s synth-pop got an indie rock punch-up, eliciting a melodic, staccato vocal tic in singer Sammy Elfanbaum akin to a young Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2024
The book is a loving punch-up, dark and biting, about how the film industry makes and breaks its own, but there’s nothing better than a comeback story.
—Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024
David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Of the new cast additions, only Ayoade is doing anything funny, but Xeni’s pretentious banter could have used a writerly punch-up from somebody like Richard Ayoade.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Airline crew could not run the risk of a full-scale punch-up at 30,000ft.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Writers didn’t want to do punch-ups on potentially crummy AI scripts or have their words (or ideas) cannibalized by large language models that didn’t pay them a dime.
—Marah Eakin, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024
Reynolds apparently did punch-up on a balcony scene in the movie (though some counter those lines are also in 2016 Hoover novel).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2024
What was supposed to be a quick punch-up gig for a two-week Encores!
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024
Live, the band’s synth-pop got an indie rock punch-up, eliciting a melodic, staccato vocal tic in singer Sammy Elfanbaum akin to a young Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2024
The book is a loving punch-up, dark and biting, about how the film industry makes and breaks its own, but there’s nothing better than a comeback story.
—Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punch-up
Noun
-
Needless to say, this tension is darkly entertaining, like a fistfight at a funeral.Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024
-
The film discusses suicidal ideation and the main character, George Bailey, expresses some violence, including involvement in a fistfight and knocking over furniture.Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
A week after surviving a back-and-forth slugfest with Windsor in the quarterfinals behind junior Emmitt Munson’s second straight 100-yard game on the ground, the Panthers head north to take on a rugged Mavericks squad that’s allowing just 9.5 points/game.Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2024
-
Should be a good old-fashioned slugfest at Kinnick Stadium.Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
The camera was quickly turned off, but Mason’s indelible memory of that confrontation lives on, not only in his mind but also in the new movie September 5, in limited theaters Dec. 13.Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
-
For those families who consider gift giving a nonnegotiable aspect of the holidays, Ward encourages people to buy something small to avoid confrontations.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
High predicted that on December 3, visible contention between humans and aliens would begin, eventually ending in melee after an unspecified period.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
-
Following a questionable call by a referee on the field, fans threw stones, rushed the pitch, and some were crushed in the process, while others tried to escape the melee by jumping a high fence, according to the Associated Press.Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The hard-throwing lefty dominated across 72 appearances (72.0 innings), notching a 1.75 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 84 punch-outs.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
-
Asus chose to have a punch-out camera and obscure part of the screen rather than mount it in a larger bezel, which shows how form has come ahead of function.Ewan Spence, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
There’s this brawl out scene with the henchmen of Ivan’s Russian billionaire parents.Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
-
The brawl got so intense that police had to step in and pepper spray players to stop the chaos.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The bouts were true Mexican boxing classics that left both fighters physically scarred, as neither of them was the same after those three duels in the span of a year.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
-
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is challenging Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to an AI duel.Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near punch-up
Cite this Entry
“Punch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punch-up. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share