1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
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Relevance
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
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3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
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as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
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1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
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2
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
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as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in to entrance
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rap
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 20 June 2026
As the noise-rap-electro act Jane Remover shrieked and pleaded through a 90-minute marathon set at the Fonda on Thursday night, one very young couple dressed right out of a conservative‘s nightmare — gender-ambiguous, purple hair, facial piercings — tapped me on the shoulder.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Jarico Anderson, who raps under the stage name Dreamllife Rizzy, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
In 2018, the duo then linked up with Drake, who at the time reigned as commercial rap’s effective King Midas, giving the producer his first mainstream hit while officially ushering in the age of Tay Keith.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 20 June 2026
As the noise-rap-electro act Jane Remover shrieked and pleaded through a 90-minute marathon set at the Fonda on Thursday night, one very young couple dressed right out of a conservative‘s nightmare — gender-ambiguous, purple hair, facial piercings — tapped me on the shoulder.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Verb
Police said he had been removed from admittance because all available seats were taken, prompting Loevy to rap on the building’s glass entrance door, which broke.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Jarico Anderson, who raps under the stage name Dreamllife Rizzy, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rap
Noun
-
After an Alvarado police officer arrived at the scene, at least one person associated with the group opened fire and struck the officer in the neck, according to the indictment.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
-
The sheriff's office said King voluntarily placed himself on administrative leave in light of the indictment.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Noun
-
Emotionally, militarily, even symbolically, this is a devastating blow to the Black Queen and her cause.—
Sean T. Collins,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
-
When Lucerys refuses, Aemond chases Lucerys on his dragon, seemingly meaning to injure him rather than kill him, but his dragon, Vhagar, delivers a fatal blow to Rhaenyra’s son.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Fans split over who carries the blame, from the fighter and his team to the commission and the promotion.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
-
Sellers place a lot of blame on Sundance’s online platform, but a major factor is streamers became primary buyers of Sundance films — and then the streamers opted out of compression and bet on ubiquity.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
In February 2026, Maher resurfaced their feud during a chat with Kimmel’s former The Man Show cohost Adam Carolla.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
And if that is to be the case, most Chicagoans do not give a damn whether the team goes to Arlington Heights or Hammond.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2026
-
In a world of drivers mostly ruled by their corporate sponsors, Busch was an otherworldly talent who simply did not give a damn.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Israeli strikes hit several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning local time, killing at least five people, Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported, despite Israel and Hezbollah renewing their truce Friday.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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Temperatures are expected to soar on June 22 in parts of Oregon and Washington, possibly hitting 100 degrees in Portland and at least 90 degrees in Seattle.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
The San Jose Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum band will be piping and drumming at Willow Glen Town Square on Lincoln Avenue, and a pop-up choir will be roaming VTA light-rail trains and stations throughout the day.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
-
And drumming — so much drumming.—
Tomás Hill López-Menchero,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Robert, talk me through the thinking behind this framing.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
Seconds later, Hines-Allen decided she was done talking and shoved Bonner.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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