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
Relevance
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slug
Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
The Pirates have some good players, but need more slug as a team.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
The Dodgers strictly would be acquiring Lowe for his ability to slug.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slug
Noun
Large windows connect the typesetter’s office to the workshop below, where men are lined up in rows, throwing lead slugs of type into trays.
—Verb
Murakami, 26 in February, has been the top power hitter in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball the last several years, and that includes slugging 22 home runs in 56 games around elbow surgery and an oblique strain in 2025.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for slug
Verb
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One defensive stop later, and the Hurricanes clinched their 31-27 win over the Rebels to punch their ticket into the national championship game.—
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The Ravens battled the Pittsburgh Steelers in a crucial division matchup, where the winner would be crowned AFC North champs and punch its ticket into the postseason, while the loser would be sent packing.—
Verb
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Iowa then got three good looks from the three-point line in the final seconds but couldn't hit the tying shot.—
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Despite their franchise history dating back to the mid-70s (via Kansas City and Colorado), which includes essentially all of the highest-scoring era in league history, the New Jersey Devils have never had a player hit either of the game’s most basic offensive milestones.—
Verb
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Five players were booked during their defeat to Cameroon, including Foster, who slapped the linesman’s hand twice and screamed in his face in frustration over a decision.—
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
Verb
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Diaz obliged, but not before smacking an unlucky onlooker with a wayward first attempt, above.—
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Often, though, the clutter is the point, and you’re smacked with temperamental textures that channel the flippant streak of plunderphonics.—
Verb
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
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Key's Jerry is a disruption through and through, knocking everything just a little off-kilter with each volatile appearance.—
Verb
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Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball.—
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Trump had repeatedly slammed Powell for cost overruns tied to the renovation.—
Verb
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Borregales banged home a 35-yard field to give the home team a 6-3 lead heading into halftime.—
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Then the same crowd saw four more Panthers legends — Jake Delhomme, Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith and Wesley Walls — march through the tunnel and bang the drum again before the fourth period.—
Verb
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As wind continues to pound the camp, a wooden pole delicately holds up the tarpaulin keeping him dry.—
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This is a chest-out, table-pounding call to arms for Orlando NFL fans who’ve spent way too long waiting for permission to care.—
Cite this Entry
“Slug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slug. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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