1
as in exploded
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in snapped
to break suddenly with an explosive sound
the last strand popped, causing the chandelier to drop to the floor with a great crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in shattered
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
popping popcorn over a campfire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in drilled
to strike with a missile from a gun
went into the woods hoping to pop the rabbit that was eating our vegetables
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of popped
For example, whenever his father-in-law’s name popped up on Adam’s phone, Adam got tense.
—
Josh Davis, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
The stock popped at the news and was up 7% by Wednesday's close.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
And so, in June of 2024, on her 30th birthday, during a trip to Joshua Tree in Southern California with her best girlfriends in tow, Jordan popped the question.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
Milano is dealing with a pectoral issue that popped up during the first half of Sunday's win against the New York Jets.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The costumes and production design are all Jacques Demy by way of Anthropologie, color-popped to impose personality on the personality-less (and with Bright Eyes and Mitski on the soundtrack to reinforce the indie tweeness).
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2025
Asamoah, a chief commercial officer at AMB Sports and Entertainment, popped the question during a trip to Napa Valley earlier this year.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
The second Emma Heming Willis popped up on the Zoom screen, a wave of grief washed over me.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The loud, colorful Northern Thai restaurant has always been a celeb magnet—Guillermo del Toro, Shawn Mendes, Jacob Elordi, James Harden and Simu Liu have all popped by in recent years.
—Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Josh Davis, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
The stock popped at the news and was up 7% by Wednesday's close.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
And so, in June of 2024, on her 30th birthday, during a trip to Joshua Tree in Southern California with her best girlfriends in tow, Jordan popped the question.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
Milano is dealing with a pectoral issue that popped up during the first half of Sunday's win against the New York Jets.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The costumes and production design are all Jacques Demy by way of Anthropologie, color-popped to impose personality on the personality-less (and with Bright Eyes and Mitski on the soundtrack to reinforce the indie tweeness).
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2025
Asamoah, a chief commercial officer at AMB Sports and Entertainment, popped the question during a trip to Napa Valley earlier this year.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
The second Emma Heming Willis popped up on the Zoom screen, a wave of grief washed over me.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The loud, colorful Northern Thai restaurant has always been a celeb magnet—Guillermo del Toro, Shawn Mendes, Jacob Elordi, James Harden and Simu Liu have all popped by in recent years.
—Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popped
Verb
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But his career really exploded a couple of years later, thanks to his starring role as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.—
Keith Langston,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
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Seguin shut out Burleson 21-0, and Martin’s offense exploded for 74 points in a victory over Mansfield.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That includes the arch-rival Atlanta Braves, whose streak of six straight NL East titles was snapped by the Phillies in 2024 (aging Atlanta DH Marcell Ozuna, having a bad year, will also be a free agent).—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Graphic by Newsweek of a house snapped in two and an umbrella shielding it from a shower of dollar bills, with illustrations of coal and a nuclear power plant.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Getty Images The nascent campaign has already shattered the record for philanthropic money raised in support of hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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When your industry is being shattered by greed?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Shrader moved 15 yards closer, and from 45 yards out drilled the kick through the uprights as Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in celebration of an improbable 29-28 win.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Aubrey — one of the very best in the league — had drilled a 64-yarder as regulation expired to force overtime.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the redesign detonated a culture war.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
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The shell was safely detonated in the woods near a local compost area by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad the day it was found, authorities said.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Pat LaFrieda beef patties are smashed to order, seasoned with a special house spice blend and topped with American cheese, a tomato slice, crispy onion rings lightly tossed in curry seasoning.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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That storm smashed the city's record for the most single-hour rainfall, caused widespread flooding, 13 deaths, and hundreds of millions of dollars of damage.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Although Harold is not literary fiction’s first obsessive ruminator, what makes Muscle Man feel so plugged into the moment is how common the predicament feels.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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For investors plugged into the Apple rumor mill, there were no major surprises.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The pair collided after the finish line when Kalitta's front left tire blew.—
Lydia Mee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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Scherbatsky was once a child pop star who went by the name of Robin Sparkles, which totally blew the gang's minds.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Popped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popped. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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