1
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she was so mad that she wanted to slap him right across the face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
tired of jokes that slap people of faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
doctors used to give newborns a light slap to get them to start breathing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
that comment is a slap to anyone who has ever served in the military
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of slap
Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Once off the bus, Johnson-Hunt said the officers put him in handcuffs and that one of the men slapped him and tried to use the Taser again.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
The reporting requirements are frequently ignored by members who, when caught, face a wrist-slap penalty of $200.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slap
Verb
During an argument, someone slapped another person in the face and then used high heels to damage that person’s vehicle.
—Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Once off the bus, Johnson-Hunt said the officers put him in handcuffs and that one of the men slapped him and tried to use the Taser again.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
Noun
But before the second period ended, Hughes leaned into a slap shot from the blue line to tie the game once again.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
The reporting requirements are frequently ignored by members who, when caught, face a wrist-slap penalty of $200.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap
Verb
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In his defense, Barnett took the stand to say there was no murder plot and that Thomas threatened him for the money using physical violence — knocking out a tooth, injuring his left shoulder, and smacking his private parts.—
Sydney Pereira,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Stiddy is the guy who throws no-look passes in practice and talks smack to the starting defense.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Claims otherwise insult the intelligence of the American public.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The International Chess Federation filed a formal complaint against Kramnik in November, accusing him of harassment and insulting the dignity of fellow players.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Aaron Gordon reinjured his right hamstring late in the first half, the latest blow to a Nuggets team that has been inching closer to full health.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
-
That was a blow to a Red Sox team that struggled to score runs during its three-game loss to the Yankees in their Wild Card series.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He’s aided by Jessica Jones, who uses her super strength (and sarcasm) to beat up Kingpin’s goons.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
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Whereas Boyd was plain-spoken on purpose, Wheeler’s diction was always elevated and precise, with a hint of sarcasm.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Journalist Don Lemon was released from custody Friday after he was arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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But of all the spaghetti that got thrown at the wall, this is the one that hits for reasons that are totally orthogonal to politics and sort of Washington.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To that end, Murphy invoked Rule 38 while emphasizing that she was offended by Durkan’s remark about her lack of preparation for the meeting.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Shapiro was flabbergasted and offended.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Jin Shin has come across some monster potholes over the last couple of weeks, including one in Koreatown that rattled his car with a sickening thump and another near the airport where its depth was obscured by water.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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Twitchy enough to line up off the edge or run with a tight end in the slot, Fisher (6-1, 231) is a bit small but brings enough thump to be the type of linebacker who never has to leave the field.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Joe Mazzulla tipped his cap to Patriots counterpart Mike Vrabel after New England punched its ticket to Super Bowl LX.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For many, the surge in gold prices has punched a hole in their wedding budgets.—
Preeti Soni,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Slap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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