pounce

Fetched 2026-10-28 (live).

Synonyms: bounce, jounce, ounce, ponce, paunce, pouncy, poonce, counce, rounce, mounce, pouce

Antonyms: bounce, jounce, ounce, ponce, paunce, pouncy, poonce, counce, rounce, mounce, pouce

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. A type of fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, sprinkled over wet ink to dry the ink after writing or on rough paper to smooth the writing surface.
2. Charcoal dust, or some other coloured powder for making patterns through perforated designs, used by embroiderers, lacemakers, etc.

Verb

1. To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.
   • to pounce paper, or a pattern

Noun

1. A sudden leaping attack.
2. The claw or talon of a bird of prey.
3. A punch or stamp.
4. Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
5. Synonym of bump (“sudden movement of underground strata”).

Verb

1. To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.
   • The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to it.
   • She pounced on the young man, because she loved him and wanted him for herself.
2. To attack suddenly by leaping.
   • I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.
3. To eagerly seize an opportunity.
   • I pounced on the chance to get promoted.
   • While he was out of town on vacation, I pounced, leaking the photos.
   • Why would I talk to the press and give them a chance to pounce on me?
4. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
5. To stamp holes in; to perforate.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.