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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bobbing
Owen Clarke, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
SpaceX support crews stationed near the landing site quickly reached the gently bobbing spacecraft and hauled it aboard a company recovery ship where flight surgeons were standing by to carry out initial medical checks.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
The faceless head of a man bobbing in the water recalls the countless Africans who perished during the perilous journey due to disease, malnourishment, and abuse, whose bodies were thrown overboard by unscrupulous ship captains and slavers to schools of sharks.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
The view inside the Phoenix Convention Center, seen from a mezzanine, was a sea of bobbing caps.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
Rather, this unique item is designed to shape to your neck and reduce head bobbing.
—Mariana Zapata, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
Kay squatted by a monitor, bobbing his head to the beat.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
The ride itself is thrilling, bobbing up and down at will, and an example of how guests of all abilities can play together, which is central to Morgan’s mission.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
There are no dolphins hanging around the buoy at Grace Bay today, just me, bobbing like a cork, mask, weight belt, and fins on, watching schools of fish zigzag beneath the surface.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Still, the infant’s head can be seen bobbing up and down.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
SpaceX support crews stationed near the landing site quickly reached the gently bobbing spacecraft and hauled it aboard a company recovery ship where flight surgeons were standing by to carry out initial medical checks.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
The faceless head of a man bobbing in the water recalls the countless Africans who perished during the perilous journey due to disease, malnourishment, and abuse, whose bodies were thrown overboard by unscrupulous ship captains and slavers to schools of sharks.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
The view inside the Phoenix Convention Center, seen from a mezzanine, was a sea of bobbing caps.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
Rather, this unique item is designed to shape to your neck and reduce head bobbing.
—Mariana Zapata, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
Kay squatted by a monitor, bobbing his head to the beat.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
The ride itself is thrilling, bobbing up and down at will, and an example of how guests of all abilities can play together, which is central to Morgan’s mission.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
There are no dolphins hanging around the buoy at Grace Bay today, just me, bobbing like a cork, mask, weight belt, and fins on, watching schools of fish zigzag beneath the surface.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bobbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bobbing. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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