1
as in exploding
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in snapping
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 shattering
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 shooting
to strike with a missile from a gun
went into the woods hoping to pop the rabbit that was eating our vegetables
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of popping
Allen had an eye-popping 13 touchdown receptions last season at Cincinnati after playing two seasons at Louisiana Tech and one at Texas A&M.
—
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
These eye-popping numbers did not escape county Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who in November led the way for passage of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
From grocery store shelves to restaurant menus, premium beef labels are popping up everywhere — but these labels don't always mean what shoppers think.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Even with the state process, rising energy demand and eye-popping electricity costs, no new large solar installation has yet been built in Milan Township.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
Hong heard about Trinket Trade boxes popping up in San Francisco and thought LA needed one too – a place for people to take or leave little treasures.
—Laurie Perez, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Even with eye-popping TV revenues, Division I universities struggle to stay in the black and are more likely to cut sports than add them.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 24 Apr. 2026
The reality docusoap genre is clearly popping again.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
The Disney Scoop Guy posted a video to Instagram on Thursday, April 23 from the Anaheim theme park that shows an A-frame roof and vertical supports popping up above construction walls just east of Edelweiss Snacks.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
These eye-popping numbers did not escape county Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who in November led the way for passage of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
From grocery store shelves to restaurant menus, premium beef labels are popping up everywhere — but these labels don't always mean what shoppers think.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Even with the state process, rising energy demand and eye-popping electricity costs, no new large solar installation has yet been built in Milan Township.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
Hong heard about Trinket Trade boxes popping up in San Francisco and thought LA needed one too – a place for people to take or leave little treasures.
—Laurie Perez, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Even with eye-popping TV revenues, Division I universities struggle to stay in the black and are more likely to cut sports than add them.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 24 Apr. 2026
The reality docusoap genre is clearly popping again.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
The Disney Scoop Guy posted a video to Instagram on Thursday, April 23 from the Anaheim theme park that shows an A-frame roof and vertical supports popping up above construction walls just east of Edelweiss Snacks.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
-
Both Monahon and Carroll are writing about transformation of the paradigm-exploding kind.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
That is, until the union starts not-so-quietly exploding during a vicious screaming match at their home following a fundraising event.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Slender claws are prone to snapping.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But the enthusiasm was motivating, from fans snapping photos of Hathaway and Meryl Streep on the New York streets, to support from Anna Wintour.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a race for the ages, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday, shattering the previous men’s world record by an astonishing 65 seconds.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Kenyan runner won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, shattering the previous men’s world record by 65 seconds.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Also, the Spurs are due for shooting regression from deep, whereas the Blazers have gotten unlucky from 3-point range.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Cade Cunningham is shooting under 43% from the field and has a whopping 27 turnovers through four games.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two Massachusetts men have pleaded guilty to breaking into Harvard Medical School and detonating fireworks last Halloween night, a crime that caught the eye of FBI Director Kash Patel.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And some advanced mines have counters that will let a certain number of ships pass before detonating.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From the buzz of the post position draw to the first look at the morning-line odds, Derby week always feels like the sport cracking open a fresh bottle of adrenaline.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The teen was looking forward to his 17th birthday on July 1, his mom said, her voice cracking from a night of crying.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But as anyone who’s dropped a mug knows, ceramics are also brittle and prone to smashing.—
Caitlin Kennedy,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Police officers arrived at her Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles and learned that the attackers had left the woman inside after allegedly smashing her jaw and choking her.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Open the new unit and mount it on the wall by drilling holes for the screws and anchors included in the package.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Since January 2025, engineers at L3Harris Technologies have been drilling, wiring, and reinforcing.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
