trounce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to beat severely; thrash.
-
to punish.
-
to defeat decisively.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has trouncedperfect 3rd person singular
-
are trouncingprogressive
-
have trouncedperfect
-
has been trouncingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been trouncingperfect progressive
-
trouncingparticiple
-
is trouncingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am trouncingprogressive 1st person singular
-
trouncessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had trouncedperfect
-
had been trouncingperfect progressive
-
was trouncingprogressive singular
-
were trouncingprogressive plural
-
trouncedparticiple
-
trouncedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of trounce
First recorded in 1545–55; origin uncertain
Explanation
When you trounce someone, you win decisively. If you win a chess match in three moves, you trounce your opponent. When a professional tennis player is in the midst of a tournament, she hopes to trounce her rival, and an ambitious speller might dream of the day she competes nationally and trounces all the other competitors. A victorious army can also be said to trounce the enemy. The origin of trounce is uncertain, though one theory has the French troncer, or "cut a piece off from," as its root.
Vocabulary lists containing trounce
Super Bowl Blowout: Epic Vocab for the Big Game
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Tangerine
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
I'll take your place till Mrs. Trounce returns.
From The Hero of Garside School by Panting, J. Harwood, (James Harwood)
The late Thomas Trounce, of this city, owned the property and managed it.
From Some Reminiscences of old Victoria by Fawcett, Edgar
"You must make up your mind to get off that bed as soon as possible, mustn't he, Mrs. Trounce?"
From The Hero of Garside School by Panting, J. Harwood, (James Harwood)
Mrs. Trounce, who was at heart rather an amiable woman, was busily engaged in her room sorting out an endless array of boys' wearing apparel.
From The Hero of Garside School by Panting, J. Harwood, (James Harwood)
The two-story wooden building in the middle of the block, between Trounce Alley and Fort Street, is the Hotel de France, kept by P. Manciet, and one of the two principal hotels of that day.
From Some Reminiscences of old Victoria by Fawcett, Edgar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
