as in claps
a loud explosive sound
the soda can opened with a sharp pop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in dads
a male human parent
ask your pop if he knows where the keys to the shed are
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in shatters
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 shoots
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 pops
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
29 June 2026
First, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra will do its own full set of classical, pops and patriotic music.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
With a creamy mayo base, sharp Cheddar cheese, and pops of pimientos dotted throughout, pimiento cheese is one of those foods that's hard not to love.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
The bright yellow blooms of forsythias are one of the earliest pops of color in the garden.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
25 June 2026
Goldstein likes drawing her favorite flowers, peonies, tulips, or poppies for her designs and opts for classic colors such as pink, lavender, yellow, and pops of green.
—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
The first floor sets the elegant tone, with herringbone timber floors playing against pops of metal, glass, stainless steel, and pink marble.
—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
22 June 2026
Naturally deer-resistant, ferns are not limited to shades of green, but also come in hues of red and purple, allowing for pops of color in your garden.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
Fresh tomatoes add pops of juicy sweetness.
—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
Octavia Spencer pops in a summery blouse at the Amiri show during Paris Fashion Week on June 25.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Superman pops in for a couple of cute scenes along the way, while another DC side character, the alien and bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa), appears as a tortured bit of universe-building.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Color quality is awesome, and contrast really pops.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
26 June 2026
Further along, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline pops in and out of view.
—
Sarah Rose,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2026
Spielberg didn’t film those terrifying closeups of the shark – like when Jaws pops up as Brody is shoveling the bloody chump slick in the water — until Day 92.
—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Longchamp Le Pliage Signature Travel Bag With bold, contrasting lettering that pops against the neutral canvas, the Le Pliage Signature Travel Bag makes a serious fashion statement in transit.
—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
21 June 2026
The roof pops into place via the same style of central hub.
—
New Atlas,
19 June 2026
Noun
Color also stood out, with vibrant reds, dusty pastels and pops of cobalt blue adding visual interest to otherwise monochromatic looks.
—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
29 June 2026
First, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra will do its own full set of classical, pops and patriotic music.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
With a creamy mayo base, sharp Cheddar cheese, and pops of pimientos dotted throughout, pimiento cheese is one of those foods that's hard not to love.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
The bright yellow blooms of forsythias are one of the earliest pops of color in the garden.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
25 June 2026
Goldstein likes drawing her favorite flowers, peonies, tulips, or poppies for her designs and opts for classic colors such as pink, lavender, yellow, and pops of green.
—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
The first floor sets the elegant tone, with herringbone timber floors playing against pops of metal, glass, stainless steel, and pink marble.
—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
22 June 2026
Naturally deer-resistant, ferns are not limited to shades of green, but also come in hues of red and purple, allowing for pops of color in your garden.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
Fresh tomatoes add pops of juicy sweetness.
—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
Verb
Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, D’Arcy Carden, and Gemma Chan are the friends, which bodes well, and Timothy Olyphant pops up as an old boyfriend.
—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2026
Octavia Spencer pops in a summery blouse at the Amiri show during Paris Fashion Week on June 25.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Superman pops in for a couple of cute scenes along the way, while another DC side character, the alien and bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa), appears as a tortured bit of universe-building.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Color quality is awesome, and contrast really pops.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
26 June 2026
Further along, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline pops in and out of view.
—
Sarah Rose,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2026
Spielberg didn’t film those terrifying closeups of the shark – like when Jaws pops up as Brody is shoveling the bloody chump slick in the water — until Day 92.
—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Longchamp Le Pliage Signature Travel Bag With bold, contrasting lettering that pops against the neutral canvas, the Le Pliage Signature Travel Bag makes a serious fashion statement in transit.
—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
21 June 2026
The roof pops into place via the same style of central hub.
—
New Atlas,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pops
Noun
-
One of the moments in the musical that caused the most laughter and claps from the audience was the final song, which mocks the idea of using violence as a form of protest rather than joining a movement or focusing on policy.
-
There were the polite claps after good attacks by the Swiss, sarcastic whistles by the Qatari fans after their team again failed to mount a threat.
Noun
-
Depressed dads are more prone to expressing aggravation, annoyance or even rage, Daniel Singley, a psychologist who founded a therapy center for men, said to the Times.
-
The Chicago Cubs have two first-time dads, Dansby Swanson and Javier Assad, who are celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday with a deep appreciation of how fatherhood can affect their lives.
Verb
-
In other words, if that water heater explodes, then the investor will be personally sued for negligence in not replacing it, and the liability shield of the real property company is thus circumvented.
-
But traipse past the principal’s office, scale a short incline, and you’ll be rewarded with an 80-foot-long mural that explodes with color.
Verb
-
In a video of her final performance, Lee snaps fluidly in and out of African-American Vernacular English, applying different accents and inflections.
-
And as Hood watches, Chayton snaps Siobhan’s neck … just as sirens appear in the background, causing all of the Redbones to flee.
Verb
-
But now a new ultralight player shatters the silence with an impressive solo tent that not only drops in right around 2 lb (907 oz) but does it at half the price of some of the competition.
-
When a window shatters, your entire home is at risk of collapse or even being blown away.
Verb
-
The second, MiDAR, is an active multispectral sensing system that shoots multiple wavelengths of light through the water column to illuminate the otherwise dark ocean depths.
-
Travis Kelce shoots his shot Swift and Kelce’s romance can be traced back to summer 2023, when the Kansas City Chiefs tight end attended an Eras tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ house.
Noun
-
The long, curly ends she was once revered for were now chopped to her chin, while her bangs mingled over her brows.
-
Playfully making a surprised expression at the camera and giving a big thumbs up, the bride-to-be styled her dark blonde hair in a sleek style with her front bangs swept to the side.
Noun
-
Russert and Sanders Townsend have bonded over losing their fathers.
-
That would have been unlikely just a few years ago — when laws in this Muslim-majority nation forbade women freedom of travel without permission from husbands or fathers.
Cite this Entry
“Pops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pops. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
