as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
the film lacks compelling characters, but it has plenty of bang-bang action
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Recent Examples of bang-bang
On the second costly infield play, in the fifth inning, Chapman moved quickly on Xander Bogaerts’ dribbler, but Schmitt, anticipating the bang-bang play, extended too early and missed the high throw.
—
Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026
Sometimes these are bang-bang things.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
On second down, Gonzalez stapled himself to Bills receiver Keon Coleman in man coverage, then drifted expertly in zone to jump Khalil Shakir from behind on a bang-bang incompletion that forced a field goal attempt.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Despite the bang-bang nature of the play, To’oTo’o was called for unnecessary roughness.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Ortiz was standing behind Lowe as the bang-bang play unfolded.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
He’s also involved in some dodgy side hustles, which leads to a lot of peripheral gunplay and tangential, ha-ha–bang-bang set pieces that feel cherry-picked from Coen’s back catalog.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
The bang-bang ending gave Colorado (35-89) its third straight win and clinched the four-game series with the Diamondbacks.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026
Sometimes these are bang-bang things.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
On second down, Gonzalez stapled himself to Bills receiver Keon Coleman in man coverage, then drifted expertly in zone to jump Khalil Shakir from behind on a bang-bang incompletion that forced a field goal attempt.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Despite the bang-bang nature of the play, To’oTo’o was called for unnecessary roughness.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Ortiz was standing behind Lowe as the bang-bang play unfolded.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
He’s also involved in some dodgy side hustles, which leads to a lot of peripheral gunplay and tangential, ha-ha–bang-bang set pieces that feel cherry-picked from Coen’s back catalog.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
The bang-bang ending gave Colorado (35-89) its third straight win and clinched the four-game series with the Diamondbacks.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bang-bang
Adjective
-
Despite the official figures offered and pronouncements made by Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, New York City remains a very violent place.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
Landslide tsunamis, like the one that happened in Tracy Arm, are often more localized but also way more violent.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The old saying that film does not lie is true here in the opening episode, as viewers get a glimpse at Williams’ basketball skills as a shooter and leaping ability as a ferocious dunker.—
Joe Davidson
May 7,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
-
In July 2023, daredevil physicists outfitted a high-altitude NASA plane with gamma-ray detectors and flew it straight over the core of some of the most ferocious storms on the planet — tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The milestone came during Indiana’s season opener against the Dallas Wings on Saturday — a game the Fever ultimately dropped, 107-104, despite a furious offensive performance from both teams.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
And the opponent’s goals came fast and furious in the opening 45 minutes plus stoppage time — especially during the first 26.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
But creating that space has proven challenging, with plans for two new shelters in the city limits abandoned in recent years after fierce neighborhood opposition.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
-
Wildlife refuges and other nature areas protect 40% of Block Island, and residents are renowned for their fierce opposition to anything that might imperil their pristine Atlantic home.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Overall, it's been a turbulent year for cyber stocks.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
-
The sudden retirement comes after a turbulent year for the division in which the program’s full-time employees were laid off.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
And that’s going to be the most explosive part.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
-
The Israeli military said explosive drones launched by Hezbollah had fallen within Israeli territory, and one Israeli reservist soldier had been severely injured.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a region of rough roads, Chispa is among the roughest.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
That is often billed as a finishing school for footballing talent, but graduates inevitably remain rough around the edges.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bang-bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bang-bang. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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