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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bops
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
But Blood Orange’s mid-tempo bops are intoxicating, to be sure.
—Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 2 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
Noun
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
But Blood Orange’s mid-tempo bops are intoxicating, to be sure.
—Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 2 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bops
Verb
-
Instead, Ted slaps him in the face, twice.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Anthony thinks his fiancé wants a mother more than a partner, so Giuseppe slaps a pie into his face?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The blows come from front, back, and the demonstrator doesn’t seem to hold back even.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Frazier, though, was relentless, seeking a way inside Ali’s reach, driving blows into Ali’s ribs but moving too fast to get caught by the night-ender Ali had planned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When the Great Depression hits, these estates become the targets of an ideological clash.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Emmy winner voiced a role in DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys 2 and will soon be seen starring alongside comedian Nate Bargatze in his TriStar Pictures comedy The Breadwinner, which hits theaters on March 13.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His visit to her is the kind of single scene where an Oscar winner like Steenburgen knocks it out of the park.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The fun-loving entertainment hub doesn't yet have a US product page, but is up for pre-order on Amazon for US$799 (though there is a promo coupon available at time of writing that knocks a few dollars off that ticket price).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Millennials are currently ruling the tech industry and clinging to their roles as the economy is rocked by uncertainty due to tariffs, inflation increases living expenses, and AI swipes jobs.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Deen also takes several swipes at her former detractors in the project, including fellow foodie and CNN travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain, who died by suicide in 2018.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Andor hates him on sight, which only intensifies when Berend smacks around his mother and tears up the apartment looking for proof that Klára has deceived the boy with idealized fictions about his origins.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Vocals are sped up into squiggles, instruments are reversed and gated, percussion smacks you in the face and then suddenly vanishes.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Ali was scoring plenty with jabs and flurries, but his attempts to land big punches mostly fell flat.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
But as any fan of either show will tell you, both are adept at delivering emotional gut-punches that have been known to leave viewers in tears.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Legacy is made from the small, repeatable disciplines no one claps for, but everyone benefits from.—
Cody Bjugan,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
And a couple claps their way through Swift's discography.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bops. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share