as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
give the nail a final pound with the hammer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in cages
an enclosure with an open framework for keeping animals
stray dogs wearing tags are kept in that pound until their owners can be notified
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in shuffles
to move heavily or clumsily
pounding down the road as fast as he could run
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hits
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
pounding nails into boards all day long
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in licks
to strike repeatedly
during the storm the waves furiously pounded the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in grinds
to reduce to fine particles
the tablet may be pounded and mixed in with the animal's food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example 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 pounds
Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026
California sea lions don’t usually exceed more than 850 pounds and 7 feet in length.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Male Stellar sea lions can weigh between 990 and 2,500 pounds and Chonkers looks to be on the upper end of the scale.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Atmos Rewards members can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.
—Hali Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The breed, a cross between the Flanders Giant and Spanish brown-type rabbits, can grow to nearly 20 pounds and give birth to around 22 babies a month.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Sturdy handles Moving 10 pounds of potatoes in a bin across the kitchen is much easier when that bin has sturdy handles.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Nussmeier weighed in at a rather light 203 pounds at the NFL Combine and was measured with hands under nine inches.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Members of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
James is staring into the middle distance while Luka pounds the air out of the Spalding for twenty seconds per possession.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
That person, John Weil, is a former real estate developer who pounds the pavement looking for potential conversion candidates.
—J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2026
In the present, Simon (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) pounds his car’s steering wheel, driving away from wreckage.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The claw then releases the broken bikes and pounds them down once more for good measure.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Burrell pounds his way down to the four-yard line.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
The man simply pounds the zone.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
According to investigators, Anderson stands at about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs approximately 220 pounds.
—Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026
California sea lions don’t usually exceed more than 850 pounds and 7 feet in length.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Male Stellar sea lions can weigh between 990 and 2,500 pounds and Chonkers looks to be on the upper end of the scale.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Atmos Rewards members can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.
—Hali Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The breed, a cross between the Flanders Giant and Spanish brown-type rabbits, can grow to nearly 20 pounds and give birth to around 22 babies a month.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Sturdy handles Moving 10 pounds of potatoes in a bin across the kitchen is much easier when that bin has sturdy handles.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Nussmeier weighed in at a rather light 203 pounds at the NFL Combine and was measured with hands under nine inches.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Members of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
James is staring into the middle distance while Luka pounds the air out of the Spalding for twenty seconds per possession.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
That person, John Weil, is a former real estate developer who pounds the pavement looking for potential conversion candidates.
—J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2026
In the present, Simon (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) pounds his car’s steering wheel, driving away from wreckage.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
The claw then releases the broken bikes and pounds them down once more for good measure.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Burrell pounds his way down to the four-yard line.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
The man simply pounds the zone.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pounds
Verb
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The nonprofit holds a 26% stake, plus warrants if OpenAI hits certain valuation targets.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Searchlight is in development on Lottery, a Permut Presentations drama about a young man with Down syndrome who, after winning the lottery, flees his estranged mother and hits the road with a charming new friend who has ulterior motives of her own.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The reinterpretation of the timepieces draws from Tag Heuer’s design codes, powered by the Solargraph movement.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Meantime, Ty France draws the start at first base and Gavin Sheets is in the lineup at DH, giving the Padres a bench of Song, Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos, Bryce Johnson and catcher Luis Campusano.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The production, directed with the brooding fluidity that is David Cromer’s calling card, is most alive in the evolving dynamic between Nick and Jacki, whose romance happens by degrees then all at once before reality intervenes and the criminal justice bureaucracy grinds to a halt.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the closing moments, Godzilla stomps his way to the Statue of Liberty, setting his sights on New York City.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Ellie stomps back to the crew mess to whine about it to Jenna and Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The catcher receives the signal, checks his wrist band, then punches the command into his PitchCom.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Aeration can be done with a core aerator that punches shallow holes in the surface, or with a shovel or a rototiller that turns the soil more deeply.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trump lashes out at NATO and the Pope, again.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The brand’s hero reusable Plushy lashes retail for $25 a pair, while the brand’s Control Kits, which include application tools, retail for about $125.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pounds. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
