1
as in smacking
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she was so mad that she wanted to slap him right across the face
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in insulting
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
tired of jokes that slap people of faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapping
Later that night Plumier demonstrates by swiftly slapping the limp green body of a bullfrog hard across his leg.
—
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Tchervinski can be seen in one of videos of the incident slapping a Black man.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2025
Teair Tart had an incredibly stupid slapping penalty that led to a TD.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
DraftKings, one of the biggest online sports gambling sites in Illinois, is slapping 50- or 25-cent fees on most bets.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Tchervinski can be seen in the viral video slapping one of the suspects, which his lawyer claims occurred after he had already been hit.
—FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
As the dance got underway, Dwayne removed his shirt — prompting onlookers to cheer him on — and then began slapping the ground with his hands.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Cellphone video footage seen by NPR shows a group of miners frantically slapping and pouring water over their limp bodies in an effort to revive them.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
The sighting involved tail slapping and the whales slapping their pectoral fin against the ocean’s surface, boaters said.
—Paloma Chavez
august 22, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Tchervinski can be seen in one of videos of the incident slapping a Black man.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2025
Teair Tart had an incredibly stupid slapping penalty that led to a TD.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
DraftKings, one of the biggest online sports gambling sites in Illinois, is slapping 50- or 25-cent fees on most bets.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Tchervinski can be seen in the viral video slapping one of the suspects, which his lawyer claims occurred after he had already been hit.
—FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
As the dance got underway, Dwayne removed his shirt — prompting onlookers to cheer him on — and then began slapping the ground with his hands.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Cellphone video footage seen by NPR shows a group of miners frantically slapping and pouring water over their limp bodies in an effort to revive them.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
The sighting involved tail slapping and the whales slapping their pectoral fin against the ocean’s surface, boaters said.
—Paloma Chavez
august 22, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapping
Verb
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In the middle, a president who promised to put both conflicts to bed – and whose talk of a Nobel Peace Prize is smacking up against the reality of the Gaza and Ukraine wars.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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Under the hot summer sun, players drip sweat after repeatedly smacking into each other during long, physical practices.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Would any self-respecting show really risk insulting the viewer’s intelligence so flagrantly?—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Krafts need to have an open, transparent process that addresses the tough issues and avoids insulting the mayor.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Smith stretched as far as his body would allow, inadvertently hitting the splits in the process.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When arthritis pain flares up, the area around the offending joint becomes inflamed and slightly acidic.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Sep. 2025
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The optimal solution for economic self-harm is not to conjure an elaborate rebate mechanism but to scale back the offending tariffs at the first opportunity.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All we were focused on was just containing him, knocking the pocket back, just trying to keep him in the pocket, and forcing the football.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
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No texts, no phone calls, no IMs—just walking over to their house, knocking on the door, and hanging out together?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Taddese is on the ground, bent over, face down, as a man kicks him, and the woman who was pushed, dressed in a black jumpsuit and barefoot, gets up and begins punching him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Samirah, the central performer, entrances Billie—her lyrics punching over vibrating beats, her voice gritty and sultry.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Center fielder Lawrence Butler was the first player to score, slamming a ball into center field during his first at-bat to lead off the first inning.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The instruments detected gravitational waves, faint ripples in space-time produced by the two black holes slamming into each other.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But then Lacey was back with the kids, banging around in the kitchen, and the first of the evening’s friends and acquaintances began to show up and the blessedness passed, as had the roadrunner, hyperactive and vigilant and always on the make, gone off to seek somebody else’s snakes.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
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When Weimers went on to give up his remaining speaking time for a moment of silence, Vice President Katarina Barley cut him off, sparking desk-banging protests from right-wing lawmakers in the chamber.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapping. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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