1
as in banging
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in drumming
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 chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in transporting
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rapping
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
1 July 2026
The first cuts on Big Mama confirm Latto’s hard-rapping bona fides.
—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
1 June 2026
At one point, Tech returned to old-school hip-hop fundamentals, beatboxing and using his chest as percussion while rapping, echoing lunchroom cypher traditions.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2026
Bergstrom accepted the challenge and promptly beat the older male recruiter, rapping out 18 pull-ups while the recruiter could muster only 15.
—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
North wore a long blue wig, black sunglasses and a black leather outfit, dancing around and rapping while on stage.
—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Numbers-wise, what Yandy Diaz did Thursday night, rapping his 1,000th career hit, may not seem that significant.
—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Marcus Stokes initially committed to Florida but never got to UF after a video surfaced of him rapping along to song lyrics that included a racial slur.
—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Mamdani began rapping in high school, releasing socially conscious songs in his 20s on subjects ranging from Indian flatbread to colonialism.
—
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Phones came out when Lil Sobe did his endearing online bit IRL, rapping with his Ethiopian mom over TrapMoneyBiggie beats.
—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
1 July 2026
The first cuts on Big Mama confirm Latto’s hard-rapping bona fides.
—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
1 June 2026
At one point, Tech returned to old-school hip-hop fundamentals, beatboxing and using his chest as percussion while rapping, echoing lunchroom cypher traditions.
—
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2026
Bergstrom accepted the challenge and promptly beat the older male recruiter, rapping out 18 pull-ups while the recruiter could muster only 15.
—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
North wore a long blue wig, black sunglasses and a black leather outfit, dancing around and rapping while on stage.
—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Numbers-wise, what Yandy Diaz did Thursday night, rapping his 1,000th career hit, may not seem that significant.
—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Marcus Stokes initially committed to Florida but never got to UF after a video surfaced of him rapping along to song lyrics that included a racial slur.
—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Mamdani began rapping in high school, releasing socially conscious songs in his 20s on subjects ranging from Indian flatbread to colonialism.
—
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapping
Verb
-
The Atlas Lions made the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, breaking through the glass ceiling that CAF teams had been banging their heads on for decades at the quarter-final stage.
-
While the cameras were rolling, Spielberg would stand just out of frame with two wooden bats, banging them together to startle her.
Verb
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At the track’s apex Korten explodes in and out of dissonant broken chords against Mark Shim’s angular saxophone lines, an unexpected development that sneaks up on you thanks to Sorey’s sticky, slowly evolving drumming.
-
The San Jose Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum band will be piping and drumming at Willow Glen Town Square on Lincoln Avenue, and a pop-up choir will be roaming VTA light-rail trains and stations throughout the day.
Verb
-
Lena Dunham was spotted poking her head out of a backseat window and chatting with someone redirecting traffic, while her ex, a suited Jack Antonoff, and his sister, fashion designer Rachel Antonoff, were also seen walking up to MSG.
-
While chatting with the NFL brothers, Jason posed a tongue-in-cheek question to the Prince of Wales.
Verb
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Prosecutors accused the group of transporting unaccompanied children between the ages of 5 and 13 from Juárez, Mexico, into the United States.
-
Vintage wooden crates have practical uses beyond transporting food, games, and other picnic essentials.
Verb
-
Americans are grabbing their passports and fleeing the country in hopes of leaving the nation’s problems behind.
-
Swanson argues those behind-the-scenes improvements have done more to modernize logistics than many of the industry’s headline-grabbing automation projects.
Verb
-
And take the Exit Readiness Quiz to understand exactly where the gaps are before any business buyer comes knocking.
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
Verb
-
Zlatko Dalic’s side took the lead in the 54th minute through Ante Budimir tapping home a perfect Josip Stanisic cross.
-
After recently joining the brand ambassadorship craze by naming Spanish music sensation Bad Gyal as their brand’s first ambassador, the Dsquared2 founders are adding a male counterpart to this new strategy by tapping another local talent.
Verb
-
As the order to evacuate was played over loudspeakers on the National Mall, some people appeared to be standing in place, talking with those around them and not exiting the area, while others were walking toward exits.
-
His straight-talking and cliche-less approach hasn’t stopped, either.
Cite this Entry
“Rapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapping. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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