as in cheering
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as in slapping
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
clapped him on the back as a friendly gesture
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Recent Examples of clapping
Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
That shifted fast to boos and more from the crowd when Vance was shown on the big screen in the stadium clapping for his fellow Americans.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Fellow deputies, friends, family members, doctors, and therapists lined the halls of Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Institute, clapping and cheering as MDSO Deputy Leo Cantave marked a major milestone in his recovery.
—Marybel Rodriguez, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
In the background, a large group of Warkaris—men and women dressed in traditional white attire, colorful saris, turbans and topis—sit in a semicircle, clapping and cheering.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
But Rosenior was rewarded for all his hand-clapping of encouragement from the touchline with Garnacho’s role as a supersub to at least give them an outside chance in the second leg.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The camera also cut to a shot of Martin Short clapping while seated next to his fellow Only Murders in the Building actor Steve Martin, who also laughed at the quip.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Remixing the words of hand-clapping games from previous generations.
—Rebekah Willett, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Though clapping and cheering happen, nothing to this degree usually takes place.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026
Before Northwestern’s game with Michigan at Wrigley Field last November, an NU student reporter sitting next to me in the press box suddenly began clapping.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
During the ceremony, Barron was seen smiling and clapping alongside Elon Musk, animatedly talking with Jeff Bezos and greeting outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The crowd rose to its feet, clapping and shouting in approval.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Try occasional light exercises in your car, like clapping your hands and moving your legs around.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
The drummer led the Bo Diddley beat until the audience took over, clapping while Hart bid farewell, then spontaneously group-singing the Buddy Holly song to an empty stage.
—Ben Fong-Torres, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026
Kittle was trying to encourage his teammates as he was being carted off, clapping in their direction.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Mann’s hilarious Brad says to Ben, grinning nervously and clapping his hands in an attempt to make friends.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
Instead of joyful encouragement, the clapping felt like desperation in the arena.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
That shifted fast to boos and more from the crowd when Vance was shown on the big screen in the stadium clapping for his fellow Americans.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Fellow deputies, friends, family members, doctors, and therapists lined the halls of Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Institute, clapping and cheering as MDSO Deputy Leo Cantave marked a major milestone in his recovery.
—Marybel Rodriguez, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
In the background, a large group of Warkaris—men and women dressed in traditional white attire, colorful saris, turbans and topis—sit in a semicircle, clapping and cheering.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
But Rosenior was rewarded for all his hand-clapping of encouragement from the touchline with Garnacho’s role as a supersub to at least give them an outside chance in the second leg.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The camera also cut to a shot of Martin Short clapping while seated next to his fellow Only Murders in the Building actor Steve Martin, who also laughed at the quip.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Remixing the words of hand-clapping games from previous generations.
—Rebekah Willett, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Though clapping and cheering happen, nothing to this degree usually takes place.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
In a video that has since gone viral, Strelow's teammates are seen clapping when a clang can be heard.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Feb. 2026
Before Northwestern’s game with Michigan at Wrigley Field last November, an NU student reporter sitting next to me in the press box suddenly began clapping.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
During the ceremony, Barron was seen smiling and clapping alongside Elon Musk, animatedly talking with Jeff Bezos and greeting outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The crowd rose to its feet, clapping and shouting in approval.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Try occasional light exercises in your car, like clapping your hands and moving your legs around.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
The drummer led the Bo Diddley beat until the audience took over, clapping while Hart bid farewell, then spontaneously group-singing the Buddy Holly song to an empty stage.
—Ben Fong-Torres, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026
Kittle was trying to encourage his teammates as he was being carted off, clapping in their direction.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Mann’s hilarious Brad says to Ben, grinning nervously and clapping his hands in an attempt to make friends.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clapping
Noun
-
Schneider yelled to the cheering crowd.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The boys’ team helped set up the gym, ran score tables, assisted referees, reset the mats for title matches, and sat mat-side cheering throughout the finals.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes the figure tries and fails to stand up, slapping itself with floppy, almost boneless limbs.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Whenever someone new arrived at the tribute point, reporters pounced on them for comment.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
This time, the pub-style stage will feature an Eagles tribute show, which also appears in a main stage format.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
In his defense, Barnett took the stand to say there was no murder plot and that Thomas extorted him for the money using physical violence – knocking out his teeth, injured his left shoulder, and smacking his private parts.—
Sydney Pereira,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But, as the Proviso students arrived at Roosevelt and 25th on Wednesday morning, they were met with whistles and applause from crossing guards and neighbors.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The audience, through polite applause, are led to create the adventure.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Buzelis was still suspended midair when Collin Sexton backpedaled underneath the forward, knocking his legs backward to send the younger player crashing to the floor, stomach-first.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That's when Palmer punched Simpson in the mouth, knocking him to the floor, court records say.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nautilus quickly earned critical acclaim, becoming the first publication to win two National Magazine Awards in its first year of eligibility.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The Chilean director earned international acclaim with the Oscar-nominated No, with later standouts including Jackie, Spencer, El Conde and the recent Angelina Jolie starrer, Maria — a career that has consistently spanned arthouse cinema and prestige English-language filmmaking.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clapping. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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