bang-bang

adjective

ˈbaŋ-ˌbaŋ 

1

a

: having a sudden, forceful, or attention-grabbing effect : punchy

bang-bang headlines

b

: executed or happening so quickly as to make judgment (as by an umpire or referee) difficult

a bang-bang play at first base

2

: characterized by violent or fast-paced action

a bang-bang movie

Synonyms

• blood-and-guts
• convulsive
• cyclonic
• explosive
• ferocious
• fierce
• furious
• hammer-and-tongs
• hot
• knock-down, drag-out
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• paroxysmal
• rabid
• rough
• stormy
• tempestuous
• tumultuous
• turbulent
• violent
• volcanic

Examples of bang-bang in a Sentence

the film lacks compelling characters, but it has plenty of bang-bang action

Recent Examples on the Web

But the trail runner, Andy Pages, was thrown out at home on a bang-bang play at the plate after running through a stop sign from third base coach Dino Ebel. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024

Spangler then threw out Richards in a bang-bang play to first baseman Sean Stafford to keep the score tied. —Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 25 May 2024

Other times, a bullpen blunder or bang-bang play on the bases. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

No 9-year-old will remember, as an adult, being safe or out on a bang-bang play at first. —Dan Gelston, Anchorage Daily News, 9 June 2023

All those bang-bang plays on the bases just got a little more interesting. —Jay Cohen, ajc, 20 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1a