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Definition of punchdrunk

punchdrunk

/ˈpʌntʃˌdrʌŋk/
punch · drunk
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punchdrunk Lexical Profile

punchdrunk Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Stupefied, confused, or dazed from exhaustion, shock, or an overwhelming series of events.

Example

"After working through two consecutive nights to meet the deadline, the entire editorial team felt completely punchdrunk."

2

Suffering from chronic neurological damage, sluggishness, and unsteady movement caused by repeated blows to the head, especially in boxing.

Example

"The retired heavyweight champion showed the slurred speech and unsteady gait of a punchdrunk fighter."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

punchbag
punchball
punchbowl
punchdrunk
puncher
punchily
punchiness

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century from boxing slang, originally used by pathologist Harrison Stanford Martland in 1928 to describe the unsteady gait, slurred speech, and confusion observed in fighters who had endured repeated head trauma.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Punchdrunk. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/punchdrunk
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