punch–drunk

adjective \ˈpənch-ˌdrəŋk\

of a boxer : confused and unable to speak or move normally because of being punched many times in the head

: unable to think or act normally because you are very tired, excited, etc.

Full Definition of PUNCH-DRUNK

: suffering cerebral injury typically marked by mental confusion, incoordination, and slurred speech and usually resulting from minute brain hemorrhages caused by repeated head blows in boxing

: behaving as if punch-drunk : dazed, confused

See punch–drunk defined for English-language learners

Origin of PUNCH-DRUNK

²punch

First Known Use: 1918

Related to PUNCH-DRUNK

Synonyms: addle, addled, addlepated, bedeviled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, bushed [chiefly Australian], confounded, confused, dazed, distracted, dopey (also dopy), fogged, mixed-up, muddleheaded, muzzy, pixilated (also pixillated), punch-drunk, punchy, raddled, shell-shocked, silly, slaphappy, spaced-out (or spaced), spacey (also spacy), stunned, stupefied, zonked, zonked-out

Antonyms: clearheaded, unconfused

Medical Dictionary

punch–drunk

adjective \ˈpənch-ˌdrəŋk\

Medical Definition of PUNCH–DRUNK

: suffering from cerebral injury usually resulting from minute brain hemorrhages caused by repeated head blows received in boxing and marked especially by mental confusion, incoordination, and slurred speech

—punch–drunk·en·ness \-ˌdrəŋ-kən-nəs\ noun