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
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
-
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That direct relationship is what separates a true farm to table operation from a restaurant that simply slaps the phrase on a marketing page.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
Anderson slaps his hit down the right field line, just fair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Like many businesses and restaurants in neighborhoods like Little Village and Pilsen, Carnitas Uruapan picked itself back up after economic woes and significant blows to foot traffic as customers were afraid to eat out, while employees hesitated to come to work.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
The city’s population was diverse and fractious, with religious and ethnic groups who spoke Russian, Polish, Belarusian, German, Yiddish, and Hebrew, and often came to blows with one another.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Grief hits people in different ways and no one would be judged.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Jorge Soler and Donovan Walton accounted for the Angels hits with singles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Rapp, up on Taft Point, heard two thuds.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
And that's when a shot blasts through the door and knocks Lena to the ground.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
-
Hudson showed some subtle support for the jesting knocks to her boyfriend by reposting a clip of his final joke shared on Fox News' official X page.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Take a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe down the shower tiles, working in long swipes.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
18 May 2026
-
The ad was filled with references blending the show and his campaign, including swipes at incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
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 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
