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
Utility infrastructure and data center warehouses are popping up across Georgia, but are there enough workers trained to support all that rapid growth?
—
Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Her eye-popping numbers included a 38-point, 13-rebound performance in a 72-44 win over Hillcrest to win a Class 3A sectional title and a 30-point, 14-rebound showing in a 69-48 win over Lincoln-Way East to win the Sandburg Holiday Classic.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
In 1991, a teenage Reese Witherspoon made her acting debut, hitting the big screen in The Man in the Moon (pictured left) and popping up in the TV movie Wildflower.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
As the independent film marketplace continues to experience headwinds, a new feature film finance and production outfit is popping up with the intention of guiding emerging filmmakers from development to distribution.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Special menus with petite, less expensive portions are popping up all over, from large chains like Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory to trendy urban eateries and farm-to-fork dining rooms.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
After popping the question, Mathieu gave Crosby a thumbs up — the kind of joyful, instinctive gesture that says everything words can’t.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
After popping the question, Mathieu gave Crosby a thumbs up.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
And the same level of improvement that showed from 3-point range a year ago is now popping up from inside the arc.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Her eye-popping numbers included a 38-point, 13-rebound performance in a 72-44 win over Hillcrest to win a Class 3A sectional title and a 30-point, 14-rebound showing in a 69-48 win over Lincoln-Way East to win the Sandburg Holiday Classic.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
In 1991, a teenage Reese Witherspoon made her acting debut, hitting the big screen in The Man in the Moon (pictured left) and popping up in the TV movie Wildflower.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
As the independent film marketplace continues to experience headwinds, a new feature film finance and production outfit is popping up with the intention of guiding emerging filmmakers from development to distribution.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Special menus with petite, less expensive portions are popping up all over, from large chains like Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory to trendy urban eateries and farm-to-fork dining rooms.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
After popping the question, Mathieu gave Crosby a thumbs up — the kind of joyful, instinctive gesture that says everything words can’t.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
After popping the question, Mathieu gave Crosby a thumbs up.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
And the same level of improvement that showed from 3-point range a year ago is now popping up from inside the arc.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Democratic states like Illinois, Washington and Massachusetts are exploding state spending and proposing tax hikes on top earners to fund an ever-growing array of programs and handouts.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The cysts are harmless but greatly affect the guard’s range of motion, including the flexing and snapping motions necessary to take a jump shot.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Ending that three-year skid to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003 would require snapping LAFC’s three-tournament run of getting that far themselves.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Five of his shots were blocked by Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso, who finished with nine for the game and an ACC Tournament-record 20 over three games, shattering Tim Duncan’s record of 14, which stood for 31 years.—
Steve Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Luxury real estate is getting even more exclusive The backdrop of this trend is a record-shattering luxury real estate market.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Adebayo was scorching hot from the start, totaling 31 points in Tuesday’s first quarter on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range and 6-of-7 shooting from the foul line.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Kennard, shooting 50% from the three-point line, is on track to become just the sixth NBA player to shoot 50% or better from three over an entire season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some mines are programmed to ignore the first ship that passes, detonating only on the fifth, just so that the mine-clearing team goes through safely and the tanker behind it takes the hit.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Experts also reported little evidence that Iran is actively resuming its efforts to enrich uranium, let alone building a bomb-detonating mechanism.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the sheer relentlessness of its joke-cracking bodes well for future, riskier enterprises — as, for that matter, does the natural spark between Matarazzo’s repeatedly foiled would-be swagger and Giambrone’s disarming mama’s-boy act.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Three locations in Connecticut made the list, with one even cracking the top 10.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Have a little fun in the kitchen smashing the tiny spuds before seasoning with garlic and rosemary.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Environmental advocates expressed alarm about orders to restart offshore drilling at the site of a devastating 2015 oil spill in Santa Barbara.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Joson Sanon caught fire from there, drilling three 3-pointers — the last one being a four-point play — in a three-minute span.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
