trounce
[trouns]
- to beat severely; thrash.
- to punish.
- to defeat decisively.
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Origin of trounce
First recorded in 1545–55; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for trounce
Contemporary Examples
Most patriotic movies flaunt their pride by having America trounce foreign countries.
As sure as turkey on a table, Tom Brady and the 7–3 Patriots will likely trounce Mark Sanchez and the woeful New York Jets.
On Fox News Sunday, he predicted Sharron Angle will trounce Harry Reid for the Nevada Senate seat.
The two were just playing, he said, and he was imitating television wrestlers who trounce their opponents.
Historical Examples
If any one else intimates that you are a fool, trounce him one for me.
The Making of Bobby BurnitGeorge Randolph Chester
No cheek, kid, else we'll trounce you like we've just trounced your friend Plunger!
The Hero of Garside SchoolJ. Harwood Panting
There will soon be fewer pirates for you to trounce, I hope, my lad.
Blackbeard: BuccaneerRalph D. Paine
We're going to trounce your team to-morrow in handsome style.
Frank Merriwell's SonBurt L. Standish
"Wouldn't I trounce the villain for it," she said, as she continued to apply the lotion.
trounce
- (tr) to beat or defeat utterly; thrash
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Word Origin
C16: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for trounce
v.
1550s, "to trouble, afflict, harass," later "to beat, thrash" (1560s), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Middle French troncer "to cut, cut off a piece from," from tronce "piece of timber," from Old French tronc (see trunk). Related: Trounced; trouncing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper