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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Recent Examples of bopping
Are Fanny and her mother related to Claire in some other way — Claire’s mother, Julia, sings the same song to her newborn son William, who could still be bopping around singing that song in the 18th century.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The energy was infectious, and the crowd still sang along, bouncing their shoulders and bopping their heads.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
No agents of the state will yank you out of a stadium for bopping along to this!
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Still bopping to the top, 20 years later!
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty bring crackling wit and easy chemistry to a mismatched pair bopping between boroughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Famed film director Spike Lee and Hip-hop stalwarts Common and Black Thought could be seen bopping their heads to the Songs In The Key of Life favorite.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
This Zara Asymmetric Fringe Skirt captures to cozy, elevated look perfectly, ideal for everything from bopping around the city with my toddler to going out for cocktails in Milan.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
According to various videos circulating, partygoers across the city were in for a surprise as Mamdani, 34, was spotted bopping behind DJ booths, MCing street parties, and participating in Halloween dance memes.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The energy was infectious, and the crowd still sang along, bouncing their shoulders and bopping their heads.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
No agents of the state will yank you out of a stadium for bopping along to this!
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Still bopping to the top, 20 years later!
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty bring crackling wit and easy chemistry to a mismatched pair bopping between boroughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Famed film director Spike Lee and Hip-hop stalwarts Common and Black Thought could be seen bopping their heads to the Songs In The Key of Life favorite.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
This Zara Asymmetric Fringe Skirt captures to cozy, elevated look perfectly, ideal for everything from bopping around the city with my toddler to going out for cocktails in Milan.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
According to various videos circulating, partygoers across the city were in for a surprise as Mamdani, 34, was spotted bopping behind DJ booths, MCing street parties, and participating in Halloween dance memes.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bopping
Verb
-
After hitting 11 of their first 17 attempts, the Bison finished 14 of 29.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The problem is the film just keeps hitting this same note over and over without ever caring to explore the psychology that underpins this.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her furious attempts to extricate herself from Ramirez ended with her smacking her head on the parking lot asphalt and Ramirez hitting her in the right eye, according to the arrest report.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Shepard attached the head of a 6-iron golf club to his sample collecting tool and was recorded smacking a couple golf balls across the lunar landscape.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Everyone erupted into cheers, slapping their 14-year-old brother on the back and jostling him playfully.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Itoje was sin-binned in the 64th for illegally slapping the ball in a maul and 13 men were playing Italy's 15.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On March 7, residents in parts of Havana took to the streets to express their discontent by banging pots and pans and lighting bonfires.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
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Amid a deep humanitarian crisis and blackouts lasting more than 20 hours a day, Cubans are taking to the streets to express their discontent with pot-banging protests and demanding freedom.—
Sarah Moreno
March 16,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hellebuyck misplayed the puck behind the net on a wraparound, inadvertently knocking it out front for Reichel to swat in.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Its branches reached all the way to the top floor of the house, almost knocking at the windows when prompted by the wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 18-year-old was taken off the oval in 2022 for allegedly punching a high school classmate in the groin, leading to a felony charge that was reduced to a misdemeanor before eventually being dropped.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
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In early January 2025, police were called to the Aliquippa VFW when Ours was accused of repeatedly punching and strangling another man, later identified as Preston Coleman.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Phillips then allegedly rushed the officer, wrapped his arms around him and lifted him off the ground before slamming him onto the pavement, leaving the officer with a concussion and a head laceration.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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Avoid hard acceleration or slamming the brakes Maintaining a steady speed while driving is another way to maximize fuel efficiency.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the March 14 Las Vegas wedding ceremony, Zendaya could be seen posing with the couple and clapping along as the newlyweds shared their first kiss.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
-
My mother was clapping her hands.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bopping. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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