1
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in thump
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a sharp clap to the head of the disrespectful youth
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to slap
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
clapped him on the back as a friendly gesture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of clap
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
The season’s most moving episode returns to the question at the heart of Ellie and Joel’s relationship.
count those claps 9:07 p.m.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 17 May 2025
Adam Reiss, NBC news, 2 July 2025
Why are people clapping at 'A Minecraft Movie' in movie theaters across the US?
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for clap
Noun
President Donald Trump, left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to depart after a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show on October 5, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
The season’s most moving episode returns to the question at the heart of Ellie and Joel’s relationship.
count those claps 9:07 p.m.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 17 May 2025
Verb
After it was read, his family stood in the background, clapping and cheering.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 2 July 2025
Why are people clapping at 'A Minecraft Movie' in movie theaters across the US?
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for clap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clap
Noun
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Gomez, always the goof in pics, is squatting in a pile of metallic balloons, reaching for the camera, while Swift, her bangs and red lipstick as perfectly in place as ever, leans back to gaze dreamily up at t—, are on brand for the duo.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
21 July 2025
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With filming underway for The Devil Wears Prada 2, Anne Hathaway and 20th Century Studios are giving everyone a first look the actress’ Andy Sachs character, and something seems to be missing: her signature bangs.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Above her, the sweeping halo scoreboard glowed, flashing beneath the thump of blasting pop anthems.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
-
On the footage, the sound is a muffled thump, and neither Rush nor Foss seemed alarmed.—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Verb
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In recent days, Trump has slapped tariffs of at least 20% set to begin Aug. 1 on more than a dozen countries.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
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Reporter Andy Slater claims Davis is suspected to have hit his ex in the back of the head, as well as slapping her.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
On the Mexico side of the border, Foxconn, Flex, Jabil and Dell all have operations and are benefitting from a boom in need for servers and related equipment being used to power the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry’s needs.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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Witnesses reported hearing a massive boom around 7:30 a.m., followed by the shattering of glass and screams.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Smith shoved the gun in the guy’s gut, took the blow, then left.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
19 July 2025
-
The title bout bore out as a chess match, as the ISL school traded blows with one of the top MIAA teams from the South Shore.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
19 July 2025
Verb
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In 1648, a group of English Puritans set sail from Bermuda to avoid religious persecution only to smack into Devil’s Backbone reef.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
9 July 2025
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Standing all of 4-foot-5 and weighing 63 pounds, Indie-Reign routinely smacks the ball about 170 yards off the tee.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 July 2025
Noun
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All three department veterans; explosion’s cause unknown LOS ANGELES -- A blast at a Los Angeles County sheriff's department training facility Friday killed three members of its arson and explosives unit, marking one of the department's worst losses of life from a single incident, the sheriff said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 July 2025
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Mercury stationing retrograde in Leo sends you a few blasts from the past.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Noun
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The other shoe dropped with an unsettling thud recently when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt openly gay-bashed in defense of her controversial boss.—
Louis Balsamo,
Baltimore Sun,
25 June 2025
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Her feet dangle, then land with a thud on the delicate rug hugging the side of her bed.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clap. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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