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Definitions

puncture

[puhngk-cher] / ˈpʌŋk tʃər /
NOUN
hole, rupture
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flat tire
STRONG
break cut damage flat jab leak nick opening perforation prick slit stab
Antonyms
STRONG
closure misfortune
VERB
poke hole in
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deflate penetrate perforate prick riddle rupture
STRONG
bore cut drill knife lacerate lance nick open pierce punch
WEAK
cut through go down go flat
Antonyms
STRONG
close
WEAK
build up sew
VERB
deflate someone's idea, feelings
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disprove explode flatten
STRONG
discourage discredit disillusion humble
WEAK
blow sky-high knock bottom out knock the props out (from under) poke full of holes shoot full of holes take down a peg take the wind out of (one's) sails
Antonyms
STRONGEST
prove
STRONG
praise
WEAK
build up close sew

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After visiting an optician who identified a problem with his optic nerve and referred him to a neurologist, George received an MRI and lumbar puncture which confirmed his MS diagnosis in March 2022.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Participants received doses of up to 70mg of zorevunersen through a lumbar puncture.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Empirical facts have the power to puncture partisan echo chambers and other closed-off belief systems.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

Frustration among young Americans who haven’t been able to buy their own homes needs to be tackled in a way that doesn’t puncture swollen housing equity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

I puncture the egg and watch the yellow river swirl on my plate.

From "Ninth Ward" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.