as in extremely
to a great degree
wrote several thumping big books on World War II
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pounding
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in slapping
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
thumped the desk with his hand as he delivered his speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
playfully knocked his younger brother down and began to thump him with a foam bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thumping
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Then the dam broke didn't celebrate after their thumping of Canada ended their preliminary round undefeated.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Six different players scored in a 7-0 thumping of a surging Needham group — with three goals coming from the third line.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Florida went on an 11-point run in the first half, just for UConn to end the half on a 28-14 thumping.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
The Bulldogs have shut them out six times during that streak, including last year’s 43-0 thumping.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Mariota played well in his first start, a Week 3 thumping of the Raiders.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cats sometimes seek shelter under or inside cars, so Hill’s Pet Nutrition recommends getting into the habit of thumping the hood and making noise before starting your vehicle to give any hiding cats a chance to move.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
With his back to goal, the Brazilian brought the ball under control with the outside of his boot to wheel out into space before thumping home with his left foot.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The storm was expected to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas, with the worst weather moving east into the Deep South before heading up the coast and thumping New England with snow.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
The duo injects a dose of NYC swagger to the thumping bassline, which is sure to make listeners’ shoulders bop.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026
Displays with flashing TVs and thumping music chart the shoe’s course from its debut at the 1968 Olympics, its NBA adoption in the 1970s, to its role on the feet of skateboarders and dancers throughout the decades.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Minnesota is now 5-4-4 in its past 13 games, which began with a 5-1 thumping by Colorado.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
When Lauren turned on a Black Eyed Peas song with thumping bass while in her Jeep on a warm night last summer, Sam reached to turn up the volume.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
Through this lens, Slater’s downfall at DOJ is less an ideological thumping than a mundane drama of personality and personnel fights.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Then the dam broke didn't celebrate after their thumping of Canada ended their preliminary round undefeated.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Six different players scored in a 7-0 thumping of a surging Needham group — with three goals coming from the third line.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Florida went on an 11-point run in the first half, just for UConn to end the half on a 28-14 thumping.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
The Bulldogs have shut them out six times during that streak, including last year’s 43-0 thumping.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Mariota played well in his first start, a Week 3 thumping of the Raiders.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
While Olympians in Milan walked into a packed stadium with flashing lights and thumping techno music played by a DJ at a turntable that looked like ice, the mountain ceremonies took place through the streets.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cats sometimes seek shelter under or inside cars, so Hill’s Pet Nutrition recommends getting into the habit of thumping the hood and making noise before starting your vehicle to give any hiding cats a chance to move.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
With his back to goal, the Brazilian brought the ball under control with the outside of his boot to wheel out into space before thumping home with his left foot.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The storm was expected to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas, with the worst weather moving east into the Deep South before heading up the coast and thumping New England with snow.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
The duo injects a dose of NYC swagger to the thumping bassline, which is sure to make listeners’ shoulders bop.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026
Displays with flashing TVs and thumping music chart the shoe’s course from its debut at the 1968 Olympics, its NBA adoption in the 1970s, to its role on the feet of skateboarders and dancers throughout the decades.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Minnesota is now 5-4-4 in its past 13 games, which began with a 5-1 thumping by Colorado.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
When Lauren turned on a Black Eyed Peas song with thumping bass while in her Jeep on a warm night last summer, Sam reached to turn up the volume.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumping
Adverb
-
Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Even in hockey – a sport that is extremely popular around the world – there are terms used by commentators or pundits that you might not be accustomed to hearing if not a regular to the sport.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The memories remained from crawling across the balcony, the pounding on the chamber doors, the screams echoing through the rotunda.—
Norma Torres,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In that room, Cristobal didn’t come down hard on his staff, no yelling or pounding of the table.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes the figure tries and fails to stand up, slapping itself with floppy, almost boneless limbs.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
As finger-licking as the savory food is, the real headliner here is dessert.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The hydropower generators at Greers Ferry Dam had been idle all day, so the Little Red was very low, with just a hint of current.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Progress appeared to be very little, as Iran has sought to limit the discussions to solely its nuclear program.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Stevenson played his best game in the Pats’ regular-season finale, a 38-10 thrashing of Miami.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
The carnivorous mammal's teeth-baring image suggests a wilderness pushed to the margins and lashing out.—
Felicia Feaster,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Vance often has served as an attack dog for the administration, including lashing out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oval Office visit.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumping. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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