as in thumps
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a bop to the printer sometimes fixes it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she playfully bopped him on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bops
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
One of the highlights of Latin urban music’s singles era, Daddy Yankee rightfully recognized the appeal of flooding the zone with bops and signed up for one of the catchiest.
—Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
Recorded during her Orquídeas era, this unexpected drop further cements Uchis as a deft purveyor of bops that exist purely to elevate your mood.
—Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2025
Both are anthemic bro country bops in English.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
Carpenter’s pivot from moonlighting in wan folk-pop and trop-house bops to topping international charts is due in part to a steamier approach conveniently timed to her signing to Island Records in 2021.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
The album is filled with a dozen catchy, fun pop bops.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
While the show earns points for its soundtrack overflowing with Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo bops, its driving force lies in the compelling performances of its young ensemble.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Hailing from New Jersey, the singer takes personal experiences and emotions and channels them into ballads and bops for fans to dance to, sing along with, and overall relate to.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
Will the soundtrack contain new bops?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
One of the highlights of Latin urban music’s singles era, Daddy Yankee rightfully recognized the appeal of flooding the zone with bops and signed up for one of the catchiest.
—Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
Recorded during her Orquídeas era, this unexpected drop further cements Uchis as a deft purveyor of bops that exist purely to elevate your mood.
—Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2025
Both are anthemic bro country bops in English.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
Carpenter’s pivot from moonlighting in wan folk-pop and trop-house bops to topping international charts is due in part to a steamier approach conveniently timed to her signing to Island Records in 2021.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
The album is filled with a dozen catchy, fun pop bops.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
While the show earns points for its soundtrack overflowing with Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo bops, its driving force lies in the compelling performances of its young ensemble.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Hailing from New Jersey, the singer takes personal experiences and emotions and channels them into ballads and bops for fans to dance to, sing along with, and overall relate to.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Everything bops breezily along, stopping occasionally to have Dek growl maxims about strength through domination, and observe a decapitation or two.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bops
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anderson slaps his hit down the right field line, just fair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Russian military appears to be losing some ground in Ukraine, contrary to claims by Moscow’s top brass; Ukrainian strikes are delivering damaging blows to vital Russian oil and gas infrastructure; and drone strikes by Kyiv have disrupted life in the Russian capital before.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
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And Minnesota didn’t absorb or respond to the blows.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The nonprofit holds a 26% stake, plus warrants if OpenAI hits certain valuation targets.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Searchlight is in development on Lottery, a Permut Presentations drama about a young man with Down syndrome who, after winning the lottery, flees his estranged mother and hits the road with a charming new friend who has ulterior motives of her own.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Likewise, the score by Tony Doogan leans too heavily on generic electronic thuds, the kind that segue into a commercial break cliffhanger and an ad for blood pressure medicine.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Another day, as Mom loads the children into the car, Jeremy tosses a basketball against the house, again and again, his passive aggression registering through the ball’s unyielding thuds and his own frozen gaze.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At that house, no one answered a Statesman reporter’s knocks on Monday, but Davidson told the Statesman that his family owns the whole lot.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
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For one thing, precedent says that Waddle’s production this fall should, health permitting (knocks on wood), just about double whatever numbers Cooper puts out as a rookie for the J-E-T-S in 2026.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With a lifelong love of the weight room and a good core of swipes, chops and bull rushes, Young offers a physical presence on both the interior and edge.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Our interface makes intelligent use of swipes and gestures rather than tapping or dialing.—
David Szondy
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The boy smacks him in the mouth and then immediately starts crying.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
An attack rears its ugly head, and the security team smacks it down.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bops. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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