as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
the film lacks compelling characters, but it has plenty of bang-bang action
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Recent Examples of bang-bang
The Dodgers took more good at-bats in the seventh, when another double from Freeman set up Pages for a two-out, two-run single — with Freeman racing home on his battered right ankle to score on a bang-bang slide.
—
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025
Trying to get home from third can be far different in that there are myriad bang-bang plays that can happen.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
Haggerty was initially deemed safe on the bang-bang play at second – enraging Boone – but replay review overturned the call and brought the inning to an end.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
The loud bang-bang seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the three-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot ranch home.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
The second of two runs was a bang-bang play at the plate between Luisangel Acuña and Henry Davis with Acuña just beating the tag.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Murray was trying to remember if he’s ever seen a closer bang-bang finish to a game than Gordon’s.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025
The playoffs are often decided by split-second, bang-bang plays, and this was certainly one that could have easily been called in real time.
—Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
First-base umpire Jordan Baker originally ruled Riley out on the bang-bang play, but the Braves challenged, and the call was overturned.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025
Trying to get home from third can be far different in that there are myriad bang-bang plays that can happen.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
Haggerty was initially deemed safe on the bang-bang play at second – enraging Boone – but replay review overturned the call and brought the inning to an end.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
The loud bang-bang seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the three-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot ranch home.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
The second of two runs was a bang-bang play at the plate between Luisangel Acuña and Henry Davis with Acuña just beating the tag.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Murray was trying to remember if he’s ever seen a closer bang-bang finish to a game than Gordon’s.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025
The playoffs are often decided by split-second, bang-bang plays, and this was certainly one that could have easily been called in real time.
—Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
First-base umpire Jordan Baker originally ruled Riley out on the bang-bang play, but the Braves challenged, and the call was overturned.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bang-bang
Adjective
-
The protests had been largely peaceful throughout Friday and Saturday, with isolated instances of violent activity.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Noni finds herself up against Lion’s violent henchmen and women in series of fight-to-the-death encounters aboard the tyrant’s grandiose sailing ship, which lies at the heart of a vast naval fleet.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
The game needed overtime — the third game that went beyond regulation in the first four contests of the series — because Edmonton mounted a ferocious comeback after falling into a three-goal first period deficit.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
-
He’s been on a like-a-hurricane live roll lately with his ferocious new band the Chrome Hearts, who make their studio debut on Talkin to the Trees.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Ripley capped off a furious comeback with a Razor’s Edge toss of Perez onto Giulia, followed by a slam onto a ladder lodged between the first and second ropes.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
Meta’s big bet on Wang fits into CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to bolster his company’s AI efforts amid fierce competition from OpenAI and Google-parent Alphabet.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
-
Sanders’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), is a fierce Trump critic.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
The capsizing was believed to have been caused by turbulent waters from heavy recent rains.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
13 June 2025
-
In these turbulent times learning how to manage disputes is a must.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
Strikers with explosive pace, suitable for running in behind defences or running the channels.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
-
Memphis has relied upon explosive offense for so long that this could be a turning point for them.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Everyone plodded along, trying desperately to avoid rough that hasn’t been cut and greens that never seem to lose their speed.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
-
More Getty Images Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, had a rough week.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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But then a summer came and went, with rabid fans left waiting (due to the writers' and actors' guild strikes) to see which Fisher brother, if any, Belly chooses in the end of the onscreen adaptation.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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Lawrence often has this frisky, rabid grin that’s irresistible to watch but also scary.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bang-bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bang-bang. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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