Synonyms of bobbing

bobbing 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of bob

as in shaving

to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument

bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shaving
• cutting
• trimming
• clipping
• mowing
• snipping
• shearing
• nipping
• cropping
• paring
• docking
• pruning
• polling
• cutting back
• whittling
• lopping (off)
• pinching
• shortening
• manicuring
• curtailing
• stumping
• skiving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extending
• lengthening
• elongating

bobbing

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of bob

1

as in pumping

to make short up-and-down movements

a family of ducks bobbing on the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pumping
• shaking
• swaying
• jerking
• nodding
• wagging
• jogging
• ducking
• bobbling
• jouncing
• rocking
• seesawing
• wiggling
• swinging
• jiggling
• wobbling
• oscillating
• undulating
• dropping

2

as in slapping

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

• slapping
• smacking
• hitting
• banging
• knocking
• slamming
• punching
• clapping
• pounding
• whacking
• striking
• clipping
• swiping
• cracking
• batting
• kicking
• bopping
• thumping
• tapping
• poking
• nailing
• swatting
• flicking
• bashing
• hammering
• jabbing
• pushing
• shoving
• licking
• boxing
• thwacking
• slugging
• chopping
• rapping
• clocking
• stroking
• bumping
• zapping
• belting
• clobbering
• socking
• tagging
• bonking
• smiting
• clouting
• stabbing
• slogging
• pasting
• bludgeoning
• busting
• walloping
• whaling
• biffing
• battering
• beating
• pummeling
• peppering
• pelting
• buffeting
• hanging one on
• mangling
• jostling
• lashing
• cuffing
• mauling
• slashing
• butting
• stamping
• whipping
• dumping
• scuffing
• prodding
• spearing
• flailing
• roughing
• lambasting
• lacing
• bunging
• bunting
• kneeing
• drubbing
• pommeling
• creaming
• switching
• decking
• thrashing
• cudgeling
• bowling (down or over)
• sapping
• braining
• flogging
• felling
• knocking down
• clubbing
• caning
• skulling
• conking
• flooring
• sledging
• leveling
• sledgehammering
• sucker punching
• rabbit-punching
• beaning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bobbing

Verb

There's currently no 100-MW Kraaken bobbing offshore, powering 32,000 homes, at least for now. — New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

But the calm day gave way to terror when her uncle again looked out into the ocean and saw Summer’s head bobbing in and out of the water. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

And when the sun is shining, that also means the water’s sparkling, sailboats are bobbing, and seagulls are cawing. — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026

Amidst all those endlessly traversing ships and bobbing cranes, commerce flourished. — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Despite Sarah’s flapping her cardigan in the air like a hungover color-guard girl at a homecoming parade, the hapless Irish naval men sent to save her remained beyond the bobbing waves. — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Rapp and his crewmate, Suzanne Driscoll, hoisted a lobster trap marked by a bobbing buoy from the Casco Bay. — Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026

And that kind of thing didn’t happen in Mystic, a touristy escape from New York City complete with bobbing boats and sea lions doing tricks at the aquarium. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026

Emirates is rolling out a new type of headrest that will keep passengers from bobbing side to side in Economy Class seats. — Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 July 2026