as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she playfully bopped him on the head
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Recent Examples of bopping
Still bopping to the top, 20 years later!
—
Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Across the floor were Hobert’s doting parents — a couple of youthful and energetic Gen-Xers bopping along in general admission rather than VIP.
—Carrie Battan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty bring crackling wit and easy chemistry to a mismatched pair bopping between boroughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Famed film director Spike Lee and Hip-hop stalwarts Common and Black Thought could be seen bopping their heads to the Songs In The Key of Life favorite.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
This Zara Asymmetric Fringe Skirt captures to cozy, elevated look perfectly, ideal for everything from bopping around the city with my toddler to going out for cocktails in Milan.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
According to various videos circulating, partygoers across the city were in for a surprise as Mamdani, 34, was spotted bopping behind DJ booths, MCing street parties, and participating in Halloween dance memes.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Hope turned up on night two of the group’s DEADLINE world tour on July 6 at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea, bopping along to ROSÉ, LISA, JENNIE and JISOO from his seat.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
The guys' trademark move is bopping their heads in unison as the Haddaway hit plays throughout the sketch.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025
Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Across the floor were Hobert’s doting parents — a couple of youthful and energetic Gen-Xers bopping along in general admission rather than VIP.
—Carrie Battan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty bring crackling wit and easy chemistry to a mismatched pair bopping between boroughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Famed film director Spike Lee and Hip-hop stalwarts Common and Black Thought could be seen bopping their heads to the Songs In The Key of Life favorite.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025
This Zara Asymmetric Fringe Skirt captures to cozy, elevated look perfectly, ideal for everything from bopping around the city with my toddler to going out for cocktails in Milan.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
According to various videos circulating, partygoers across the city were in for a surprise as Mamdani, 34, was spotted bopping behind DJ booths, MCing street parties, and participating in Halloween dance memes.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Hope turned up on night two of the group’s DEADLINE world tour on July 6 at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea, bopping along to ROSÉ, LISA, JENNIE and JISOO from his seat.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
The guys' trademark move is bopping their heads in unison as the Haddaway hit plays throughout the sketch.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bopping
Verb
-
Gold extended its relentless rally on Thursday, crossing past $5,500 per ounce and hitting another record high.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
After Read discovered him dead in his former colleague's front yard, she was subsequently accused of hitting him with her SUV, sparking not one, but two lengthy and high-profile trials.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.—
Tim Sullivan,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
My long-term goals are more important than smacking.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
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But 6-11 has a way of slapping you in the face.—
Sam McDowell
January 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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My ten-year-old granddaughter was marching and banging her little saucepan with a salad spoon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Online posts questioning the city’s account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Private bankers wealth managers and people looking for seed money will all come knocking.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In September 2014, TMZ published a grainy elevator security video that showed Ray Rice, the star running back for the Baltimore Ravens, punching his girlfriend in the face so hard that she was knocked unconscious.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
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Aerating your lawn can improve this by punching holes into the soil or removing small plugs of soil to help water, air, and nutrients penetrate deeper into the ground.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Another clip of the exchange posted by Reedy ended with Hamilton hopping into a van with other officers and slamming his door shut.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
McIntyre threw Fatu threw a table and then picked up Rhodes, slamming him into another table with a massive powerbomb.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During the ceremony, Barron was seen smiling and clapping alongside Elon Musk, animatedly talking with Jeff Bezos and greeting outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The crowd rose to its feet, clapping and shouting in approval.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bopping. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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