as in slapping
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
he smacked the punching bag one final time before heading to the showers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smacking
Shepard attached the head of a 6-iron golf club to his sample collecting tool and was recorded smacking a couple golf balls across the lunar landscape.
—
Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In his defense, Barnett took the stand to say there was no murder plot and that Thomas extorted him for the money using physical violence – knocking out his teeth, injured his left shoulder, and smacking his private parts.
—Sydney Pereira, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
But the night version of this sport requires players to really play tennis, rather than simply smacking the ball.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
My long-term goals are more important than smacking.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
The suspect could also be seen smacking something out of an employee's hand during the video.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
Sparks from the electrical discharges -- akin to static electricity here on Earth -- are clearly audible amid the noisy wind gusts and dust particles smacking the microphone.
—Marcia Dunn The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In his defense, Barnett took the stand to say there was no murder plot and that Thomas extorted him for the money using physical violence – knocking out his teeth, injured his left shoulder, and smacking his private parts.
—Sydney Pereira, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
But the night version of this sport requires players to really play tennis, rather than simply smacking the ball.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
My long-term goals are more important than smacking.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
The suspect could also be seen smacking something out of an employee's hand during the video.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
Sparks from the electrical discharges -- akin to static electricity here on Earth -- are clearly audible amid the noisy wind gusts and dust particles smacking the microphone.
—Marcia Dunn The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smacking
Verb
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Sometimes the figure tries and fails to stand up, slapping itself with floppy, almost boneless limbs.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, bitcoin has dropped 50% since hitting a record high above $126,000 in October.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The car collided with the bicyclist before continuing another block and hitting the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market location in the Westwood neighborhood.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Buzelis was still suspended midair when Collin Sexton backpedaled underneath the forward, knocking his legs backward to send the younger player crashing to the floor, stomach-first.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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That's when Palmer punched Simpson in the mouth, knocking him to the floor, court records say.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The xAI-SpaceX merger is still fresh, AI fears have been slamming software stocks, and Moltbook—a social network for personal AI agents—blew up the Internet.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Heathcliff acts like a whiny little baby throughout this film, constantly throwing tantrums, running away, and slamming doors.—
Cazzie David,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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The former Ohio State linebacker is reportedly still on probation stemming from a 2023 arrest for allegedly punching a female relative in the head multiple times.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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My ten-year-old granddaughter was marching and banging her little saucepan with a salad spoon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Online posts questioning the city’s account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then Eriksson Ek helped create Spurgeon’s tying goal by dominating Kaiser in front and whacking at two rebound attempts, with the puck bouncing right to Spurgeon by the post.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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The reptile reacts to being picked up by flicking its meaty tail back and forth, whacking a few of the deputies.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Coming in third was British duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, who got the crowd clapping with their Spice Girls medley (this season's musical theme for rhythm dance is the '90s, so the morning's soundtrack was dominated by girl groups and boy bands).—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2026
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Before Northwestern’s game with Michigan at Wrigley Field last November, an NU student reporter sitting next to me in the press box suddenly began clapping.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smacking. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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