1
as in slapped
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
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2
as in tapped
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in chatted
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in transported
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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2
as in grabbed
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rapped
Garance Burke, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Words on love and politics are whispered and rapped in English, Spanish, Yupik, and Tlingit, and a cast of guest vocalists rotate in and out, yet the mood never breaks.
—Petala Ironcloud, Pitchfork, 20 Jan. 2026
Vance loudly rapped his fist on the conference table in support.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
For nearly two hours, people danced, sang, rapped, and smiled in awe as panties were occasionally thrown during a sensual section of the show dedicated to the ladies.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Hip-Hop In the late nineties, the brothers Terrence and Gene Thornton, who rapped as Pusha T and Malice, surfaced from Virginia Beach as the coke-rap auteurs Clipse, under the stewardship of the Neptunes production team.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Has Timothée Chalamet rapped before?
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
To make the album appeal to audiences everywhere, Syndrome is almost entirely sung and rapped in English.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Nov. 2025
The Jays rapped out 18 hits, roughing up Seattle starter George Kirby for eight runs in four innings.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Masked agents rapped on the window, demanding Martinez produce his ID.
—Garance Burke, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Words on love and politics are whispered and rapped in English, Spanish, Yupik, and Tlingit, and a cast of guest vocalists rotate in and out, yet the mood never breaks.
—Petala Ironcloud, Pitchfork, 20 Jan. 2026
Vance loudly rapped his fist on the conference table in support.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
For nearly two hours, people danced, sang, rapped, and smiled in awe as panties were occasionally thrown during a sensual section of the show dedicated to the ladies.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Hip-Hop In the late nineties, the brothers Terrence and Gene Thornton, who rapped as Pusha T and Malice, surfaced from Virginia Beach as the coke-rap auteurs Clipse, under the stewardship of the Neptunes production team.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Has Timothée Chalamet rapped before?
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
To make the album appeal to audiences everywhere, Syndrome is almost entirely sung and rapped in English.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Nov. 2025
The Jays rapped out 18 hits, roughing up Seattle starter George Kirby for eight runs in four innings.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapped. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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