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
Throw a linen shirt over the look and—voila—an adorable daytime look for bopping around Seapoint Main Road.
—
Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
The first summer Mike joined us for our annual pilgrimage to Watch Hill, Rhode Island—the last summer my dad was able to travel—the two of them spent hours bopping around the pastel-colored shops.
—Ashley Parker, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026
Pratt is reprising his starring role as Mario, the Koopa-bopping plumber and brother of Luigi.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Fans were on their feet bopping along.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Are Fanny and her mother related to Claire in some other way — Claire’s mother, Julia, sings the same song to her newborn son William, who could still be bopping around singing that song in the 18th century.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 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
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
Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
The first summer Mike joined us for our annual pilgrimage to Watch Hill, Rhode Island—the last summer my dad was able to travel—the two of them spent hours bopping around the pastel-colored shops.
—Ashley Parker, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026
Pratt is reprising his starring role as Mario, the Koopa-bopping plumber and brother of Luigi.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Fans were on their feet bopping along.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Are Fanny and her mother related to Claire in some other way — Claire’s mother, Julia, sings the same song to her newborn son William, who could still be bopping around singing that song in the 18th century.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bopping
Verb
-
Giants ace Logan Webb hitting the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing with a pitch, as well as Rushing’s subsequent hard slide into shortstop Willy Adames, pale in comparison to the clashes between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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But the big ticket moment comes in the morning, when coffee is delivered to you in bed and the tent canopy is drawn to reveal the sun hitting the looming red rocks of the canyon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
De Kock smashed eight boundaries and seven sixes and Dhir complemented his South African teammate by smacking three fours and three sixes in the century partnership.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Berfield — who played Reese, Dewey's older brother — watches the tween get picked on by a group of bullies before turning and smacking them with his bag.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But there’s more to at-home extensions than slapping them on the crown of your head and heading out the door.—
Hunter Lacey,
Allure,
9 Apr. 2026
-
That means going beyond slapping a flag on packaging in November.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
On the night he was arrested, Martinez confessed to shaking Heather and banging her head against a crib, but later recanted that confession.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Iranians have been knocking around in the United States’ critical infrastructure for years.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Serve it at room temperature so the salad on top won't wilt (and the cooking is complete before the guests come knocking).—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The video shows Timothy Brown's arrest last week in Brooklyn, in which the arresting officers can be seen repeatedly punching him, and shoving him to the ground.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Brown again pulls his hands away from the cops before Maden starts punching him.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Video emerged online showing a red Ferrari shooting out of a tunnel along the highway at a high speed, slamming into a concrete barrier where the road curved and erupting into flames.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Hamadeh, who won his seat in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District in 2024, also spent time in his speech slamming top Democrats with insults.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Following suit, Charlotte could be seen clapping along with her mama while watching along.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Cherry climbed onto the chair, clapping.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bopping. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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