as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she playfully bopped him on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bopping
According to onlookers, the Wicked star was bopping along the entire set.
—
Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The first violins unfurl a lilting, lightly bopping tune in D minor.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The dance floor was filled with bopping fans as the opening band played Spanish rock.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
The Baltimore native has been bopping from city to city after the release of his 2023 debut, Erotic Probiotic 2, and spent most of his time last year on tour with Toro y Moi.
—Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
Thompson opted for Nike athletic shorts and a gray muscle tank, bopping around as the two danced together.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The first violins unfurl a lilting, lightly bopping tune in D minor.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The dance floor was filled with bopping fans as the opening band played Spanish rock.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
The Baltimore native has been bopping from city to city after the release of his 2023 debut, Erotic Probiotic 2, and spent most of his time last year on tour with Toro y Moi.
—Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
Thompson opted for Nike athletic shorts and a gray muscle tank, bopping around as the two danced together.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bopping
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Smith stretched as far as his body would allow, inadvertently hitting the splits in the process.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle for most home runs in one season for a switch hitter after smacking his 54th dinger yesterday.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Troy Dye replaced Perryman, smacking Mahomes with a pair of solid hits on scrambles, and is likely to fill in again if Perryman can’t play.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lewis stepped outside, the freezing wind slapping her in the face, and started walking.—
Jason Kane,
NBC news,
15 Sep. 2025
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Trade tensions between Beijing and Washington have been on a rollercoaster ride in 2025, with both sides slapping escalating tariffs on each other.—
AFP,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But then Lacey was back with the kids, banging around in the kitchen, and the first of the evening’s friends and acquaintances began to show up and the blessedness passed, as had the roadrunner, hyperactive and vigilant and always on the make, gone off to seek somebody else’s snakes.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
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When Weimers went on to give up his remaining speaking time for a moment of silence, Vice President Katarina Barley cut him off, sparking desk-banging protests from right-wing lawmakers in the chamber.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All we were focused on was just containing him, knocking the pocket back, just trying to keep him in the pocket, and forcing the football.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
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No texts, no phone calls, no IMs—just walking over to their house, knocking on the door, and hanging out together?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The video, which bears a watermark suggesting it was livestreamed on the video platform Kick, showed Jackson straddling Smith before repeatedly punching him in the face and the side of his head, even when Smith was lying motionless.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman harps on takeaways, and Smith is adept at punching the ball out of the hands of running backs and receivers.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Center fielder Lawrence Butler was the first player to score, slamming a ball into center field during his first at-bat to lead off the first inning.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The instruments detected gravitational waves, faint ripples in space-time produced by the two black holes slamming into each other.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Frankie returned the sentiment by clapping his hands after petting the dog.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Frankie Grande was spotted standing and clapping for Carpenter once the signs went up.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bopping. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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