Meaning & use
punchers
Last updated
“punchers” is a form of “puncher”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralsport
Fighters or boxers, especially ones known for hitting hard.
Grammar: Plural of puncher; often used with an adjective: hard punchers.
Patterns
- a hard puncher
- a big puncher
Both fighters were known as heavy punchers, so the crowd expected an early knockout.
The coach trained his young punchers to keep their guard up.
Some punchers rely on one powerful right hand.
nounplural
Tools or machines that make holes or marks by pressing, such as paper punchers.
Grammar: Plural; usually appears with a modifier: hole punchers, ticket punchers.
Patterns
- hole punchers
- ticket punchers
The office keeps three hole punchers in the supply cabinet.
Ticket punchers on old trains marked each passenger's pass.
nounpluralold-fashionedAmerican
Cowhands who drive cattle, in the old American West.
Grammar: Usually in the compound cow-punchers (or cowpunchers).
Patterns
- cow punchers
The cow punchers rode out at dawn to move the herd.
Old photographs show cow punchers resting beside a wagon.
Word forms
| singular | puncher |
|---|
Common combinations
- heavy punchers
- Heavy punchers can end a fight with one blow.
- hard punchers
- The two hard punchers traded blows all night.
- hole punchers
- Hole punchers were on every teacher's desk.
- counter punchers
- Counter punchers wait for the opponent to attack first.
- cow punchers
- The cow punchers camped by the river.
Synonyms and how they differ
- boxers
- Boxers refers to anyone who boxes, while punchers specifically stresses hard hitting.
- sluggers
- Sluggers is more informal and implies wild, heavy hitting without much skill.
- fighters
- Fighters is broader and includes kicking or wrestling sports.
- hole punches
- Hole punches is a common alternative name for the office tool.
Word family
- punch verb
- to hit with the fist
- punch noun
- a blow with the fist
- puncher noun
- singular form
- punching bag noun
- a heavy bag used for training
Commonly confused: punchers or punters?
punchers vs punters
In British English punters are gamblers or customers, not people who hit hard.
Practice
The trainer said the champion was one of the hardest ____ in the division.
Choose one answer.
Punchers are boxers who hit hard. Pinchers grip things, punters are gamblers or customers, and pitchers throw baseballs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “punchers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.