as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
zapped the annoying bug with a swatter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of zap
Manage Stress Failing to manage stress properly can zap energy levels.
—
Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
Paradise playing coy with details on Samantha’s plan or how ALEX can be used to save the world plays up the mystery, but this lack of information regarding her thought process zaps the moment of emotion and tension.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Then, a record-breaking heat wave last week zapped much of the remaining snow, raising wildfire concerns and spurring water-use restrictions in places like Denver.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Timothy started to cry, and Plato zapped him again.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zap
Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
Paradise playing coy with details on Samantha’s plan or how ALEX can be used to save the world plays up the mystery, but this lack of information regarding her thought process zaps the moment of emotion and tension.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Then, a record-breaking heat wave last week zapped much of the remaining snow, raising wildfire concerns and spurring water-use restrictions in places like Denver.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Timothy started to cry, and Plato zapped him again.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zap
Verb
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Andy Pages hit a three-run home run and Max Muncy hit his 12th homer of the season on the next at-bat to break a scoreless game in the fourth inning.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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For cocktails and nightlife, hit TopGolf or Nola’s for live music then end the night strong with a table at HQ nightclub where resident and guest DJs keep the dance floor bumping and bottle servers keep the bubbly and energy flowing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
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One morning, a cop knocked on my door with a summons.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Andre Owens smacked three of Santa Margarita’s eight home runs in the game.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
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While Irwin is getting smacked around, two mobsters terrorize the boys in the car before kicking them out and driving off in it.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
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First baseman Ashley Griffin slapped an RBI single into center field, scoring catcher Beth Damon, extending the lead to 5-1 and ending Braswell’s day.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
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Firstman all but preemptively slapped an A24 logo on Club Kid, which doesn’t have distribution yet as of this writing, but his film really would fit into their stable of commercially friendly art flicks, down to its gooey heart.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The investigation determined that Castillo used his control panel to unlock the third inmate’s cell, and in his line of sight, the pair pulled open the door, entered the cell and proceeded to punch and kick the victim.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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Two inmates punched and kicked the victim for about 30 seconds in his cell, while a third inmate stood guard.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Howden doubled the lead with a shorthanded goal 7½ minutes later, finding miles of space just to the right of the goal and banging in a pass from Marner that split LaCombe and Alex Killorn.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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On Wednesday evening, Associated Press journalists saw residents in numerous neighborhoods banging pots and pans and setting fire to trash cans to protest the blackouts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli commented on the brand's Instagram announcement with a series of clapping hands emojis.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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Inside the school, an African drum is played while students clap along to the beat.—
Jobina Fortson-Evans,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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But when the arena expands from stocks to anything-you-can-wager-on, the definition of inside information gets slippery, enforcement becomes legal whack-a-mole, and the edge goes to whoever moves fastest into the regulatory gaps.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
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And the crowd clearly expected that pucks whacking the nets would be at a premium in this series, too.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zap. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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