1
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in thump
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a sharp clap to the head of the disrespectful youth
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to slap
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
clapped him on the back as a friendly gesture
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clap
Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
The rumble of discontent grew into the rapturous clap of thunder.
—Troy Onyango, Time, 24 July 2025
Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Speaking of rambunctious audiences, the crazy laudatory-clapping disease has infected the Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clap
Noun
Put the ‘Alabama, Arkansas’ stomp clap video in my TL again.
—Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
The rumble of discontent grew into the rapturous clap of thunder.
—Troy Onyango, Time, 24 July 2025
Verb
There also were some attendees who clapped, per journalist Ben Rothenberg.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Speaking of rambunctious audiences, the crazy laudatory-clapping disease has infected the Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clap
Noun
-
Princess Kate has experimented with short layers, sunny highlights, curtain bangs and even anonymously donated seven inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust charity in 2017.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
-
As for Gladys’s signature micro bangs, Wheat says those came about during the testing process, when the team was playing around with where to pin the wig.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the thump, thump, thumping of her brother’s hands pounding a heavy bag.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Collins brings some thump to the four spot at no cost after next season.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Later that night Plumier demonstrates by swiftly slapping the limp green body of a bullfrog hard across his leg.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Garraty is forced to slap himself across the face to stay awake as Barkovitch taunts him.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Fairweather said the apartment construction boom from the pandemic is over.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Yet so far his controversial experiment has failed to inspire a jobs boom.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rodgers took four sacks and three other hits, including multiple heavy blows.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Councilman Edwin Peacock called the incident a blow to public trust and urged both Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and police to reassess security measures.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The raw tuna got smacked with a Stop Sale.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
As of this publication, the final Conjuring movie starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren lands smack dab in the middle of the best and worst rated Conjuring Cinematic Universe films on Rotten Tomatoes.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Smoke rises after several blasts were heard in Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Several blasts were heard in Doha, witnesses said.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The quiet woodland echoed with the gentle thud of the workers’ axes.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Horror of this scale has the effect of deadening words, making stories of the most unimaginable violence land with a dull thud.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clap. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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