punching bag

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.

The most surprising outcome involved Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who became a punching bag, along with Bass, for people who thought L.A. had transformed into a hellhole.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Behind him, some of the young athletes faced each other in the ring surrounded by cheering gymmates, while others trained on a punching bag.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Since merging his cable programming behemoth Discovery with storied entertainment company Warner Bros. in 2022, Zaslav has often been a punching bag for Hollywood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

The fight percolated predictably from there, rising in intensity, until Jessica Tarlov—the liberal punching bag on Fox’s The Five—broke things up.

From Slate • Nov. 19, 2025

Four names a few different punches, demonstrating each one as he does, first against the air and then against the punching bag.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth