as in punches
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 snails
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 hits
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
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 slugs
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026 In dense plantings, marigolds can also attract spider mites, slugs and aphids. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 Spray just before dusk when slugs become active and so the wet leaves won't be burned by the sun. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026 The main thing to keep an eye out for with lettuce is slugs and snails. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026 The rose slugs are the larvae of the sawfly. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 People who eat freshwater crab, prawns, frogs, snails and slugs are at greatest risk. —Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Watch your step for banana slugs. —Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025 Gastropods are a class of mollusks that include snails, slugs and whelks. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026 Padilla and Hernandez toss out different accents – German (in which Storrie slugs a beer), Cajun, French, Shrek, Na’vi — even Shakespeare. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026 Machado slugs 169 points higher in wins. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Cutworms, slugs, and snails are among the creatures that could be deterred. —Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026 In dense plantings, marigolds can also attract spider mites, slugs and aphids. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 Spray just before dusk when slugs become active and so the wet leaves won't be burned by the sun. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026 The main thing to keep an eye out for with lettuce is slugs and snails. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026 The rose slugs are the larvae of the sawfly. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 People who eat freshwater crab, prawns, frogs, snails and slugs are at greatest risk. —Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Watch your step for banana slugs. —Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025 Gastropods are a class of mollusks that include snails, slugs and whelks. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
The Texas first baseman slugs her team-high 12th homer of the year over the left-field fence as the Longhorns regain the lead. —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026 Padilla and Hernandez toss out different accents – German (in which Storrie slugs a beer), Cajun, French, Shrek, Na’vi — even Shakespeare. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026 Machado slugs 169 points higher in wins. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugs
Verb
-
Michael hits theaters and Imax on Friday and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in his feature debut as the pop music icon.— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
-
Rico Nasty’s acting debut hits close to home.— Alex Gonzalez, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On instinct, Lindsay punches her in the face.— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
-
Seconds later, the man in a New York police vest punches the unidentified man in the face.— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 16 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
Verb
-
Victor Caratini, whose two-run single in the first inning gave the Twins some breathing room, hit a sacrifice fly earlier in the game and both Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis had RBI knocks for the Twins in the win.— Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 Apr. 2026
-
A lot of the low end on the production really knocks, too.— Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Joe Rodon clips a pass over the top of the Brentford defence for Calvert-Lewin to contest.— Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
-
The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.— Francesca Krempa, Outside, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
-
The music also slaps, synthesizing industrial, electro-pop and iPod party music into a work that feels honest and the right kind of raunchy.— Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An attack rears its ugly head, and the security team smacks it down.— Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
-
Then reality smacks you in the face.— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Teal'c takes out some frustrations on an unlucky grunt who bangs him with a door at the start of every time loop, and O'Neill gets to (temporarily) sample the will-they side of his will-they-won't-they relationship with Carter.— Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.— Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/slugs. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
