1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a sharp bang that rattled the door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in claps
a loud explosive sound
a sudden bang made the cat jump
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in kicks
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings
tried to get the most bang for her money at the attractions at the county fair
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in bumps
to come into usually forceful contact with something
the toy car banged into the wall and stopped
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
idly banged trees with a stick
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in slams
to shove into a closed position with force and noise
stomped off to his room and banged the door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bangs
Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
That might be as simple as adding wispy bangs to take your haircut or investing in a new blowout tool to meet the '90s nostalgia moment.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2026
Mitchell also debuted a brand new set of bangs.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
The look in question was from the March 10, 1997 pilot episode ‘Welcome to the Hellmouth’, in which Buffy dons a blue button-down top over a white tank top, complete with a messy updo and wispy bangs.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
My bangs stuck straight up, as if actively trying to escape my face.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Feb. 2026
That quiet was punctuated only by muffled bangs, as Sugar Bowl ski patrollers set off explosives in the peaks above to mitigate the danger of an avalanche inbounds at the resort.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2026
Before boarding the bus, schoolboy Harrison Higgins, who bangs the drum, literally, for Darlo, optimistically predicts a 2-1 away win.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The sheep alien bangs its head on the glass in the nextdoor cell, startling Tootles, who falls over and spills the tray.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
Once it’s finished, Edgar-Jones clues us in to her absolutely perfect bangs.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
That might be as simple as adding wispy bangs to take your haircut or investing in a new blowout tool to meet the '90s nostalgia moment.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2026
Mitchell also debuted a brand new set of bangs.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
The look in question was from the March 10, 1997 pilot episode ‘Welcome to the Hellmouth’, in which Buffy dons a blue button-down top over a white tank top, complete with a messy updo and wispy bangs.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
My bangs stuck straight up, as if actively trying to escape my face.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Feb. 2026
That quiet was punctuated only by muffled bangs, as Sugar Bowl ski patrollers set off explosives in the peaks above to mitigate the danger of an avalanche inbounds at the resort.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Opt for wispy wisteria bangs for something low maintenance or turn up the face-framing flattery with a thicker curtain fringe.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2026
Before boarding the bus, schoolboy Harrison Higgins, who bangs the drum, literally, for Darlo, optimistically predicts a 2-1 away win.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The sheep alien bangs its head on the glass in the nextdoor cell, startling Tootles, who falls over and spills the tray.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bangs
Noun
-
Her tenure was marked by downward-trending stock prices and a series of blows to the company’s image.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Starmer’s Labour government seems bent on inflicting even harsher blows very soon.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The latest in what appears to be an unending stream of storms thundered through the Bay Area on Tuesday, producing violent claps of thunder and lightning bright enough to light up momentarily the gray and sometimes dark sky.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All of a sudden, her kicks, her name, her story went viral.—
Eric Prisbell,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
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These kicks are supremely comfortable and are now the MVPs of my collection of more than 40 pairs of sneakers.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, excluding a mandatory $2,595 destination fee that bumps the price to $102,590.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
-
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nahill is even featured in a video, indulgently attempting to snack on a donut, before Tyson, now a de facto spokesperson for HHS’ healthy foods initiatives, slaps it out of his hand.—
Chelsea Cirruzzo,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Is this violence different from the time in her childhood when Irene slaps her?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When this valve slams shut, the entire network suffers a mechanical heart attack.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers tested whether a hardy bacterium could endure the crushing pressures generated when a space rock slams into a planet and ejects debris into space.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Crews say nothing got past the booms.—
Kayla Moeller,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Workers installed protective booms to shield intake valves at major plants, especially the one that supplies much of Riyadh’s water.—
Michael Christopher Low,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bangs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bangs. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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