as in shaved
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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2
as in smacked
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of bobbed
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
But the suddenly tenacious Canucks bobbed, weaved and came away with a 5-4 shootoout win in a highly entertaining game.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
The boat bobbed idly, water lapping against it.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Some campers tried to grasp its branches, only to be torn away by the raging current; others bobbed by, unable to reach it.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
Wings fluttered, tutus twirled and butterfly clips bobbed atop tiny heads as tiny hands, stained with chalk, turned the worn road into a living storybook.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Stone’s bobbed hair, styled often by Mara Roszak, was slightly pulled back, with sections of her auburn hair to frame her face.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
The voice bobbed and weaved like a cornered boxer.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Bill was ready when the bear’s head bobbed up the third time.
—Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
His results bobbed a little lower each year.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
But the suddenly tenacious Canucks bobbed, weaved and came away with a 5-4 shootoout win in a highly entertaining game.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
The boat bobbed idly, water lapping against it.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Some campers tried to grasp its branches, only to be torn away by the raging current; others bobbed by, unable to reach it.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
Wings fluttered, tutus twirled and butterfly clips bobbed atop tiny heads as tiny hands, stained with chalk, turned the worn road into a living storybook.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Stone’s bobbed hair, styled often by Mara Roszak, was slightly pulled back, with sections of her auburn hair to frame her face.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
The voice bobbed and weaved like a cornered boxer.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Bill was ready when the bear’s head bobbed up the third time.
—Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bobbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bobbed. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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