clap 1 of 2

noun

Definition of clapnext
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

clap

2 of 2

verb

ˈklap How to pronounce clap (audio)
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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clap
Noun
The emotional high point comes at the bridge, when the song transforms into a stomp-clap rhythm and Rodrigo shouts the lyrics with abandon. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 June 2026 As the track slowly unlocks and lifts riders to a forward-facing position, one rider gives a thumbs-up and claps. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Verb
Holding small American flags, the cohort of new citizens waved and clapped along to patriotic music sung by the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus’ TOSCA a capella ensemble. — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 4 July 2026 The wildfire survivors clapped and cheered after the bill cleared the committee. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clap
  1. bang
  2. thump
  3. slap
  4. boom
  5. blow
  6. smack
  7. blast
  8. thud
Noun
  • Given that the one-piece is reversible, you’re guaranteed plenty of bang for your buck.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • The show frontloads big episodes at the start of a season and then ends with a bang, leaving us with too many filler episodes between.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of bang
Noun
  • Duggan Borges gestures around the studio, that thump still coming through the ceiling.
    — Laura Snapes, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
  • Quesst—a needle-nosed experimental aircraft with an airframe designed to reduce the typical sonic boom to a sonic thump.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • The former legislative aide also claims that Basabe slapped him across the face and told him to stand in a corner at a private event in 2023.
    — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
  • Women slapped their heads with their hands in mourning, while men beat their chests in unison, a tradition observed at Shia Muslim funerals.
    — Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 6 July 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • As Meta races ahead with its multi-hundred-billion-dollar AI push, rivals Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon are also chasing the same tax breaks and energy deals from states scrambling for a piece of the AI boom.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 July 2026
  • In his Sunday column , Jim argued the sector continues to offer some of the market's strongest earnings growth and is best positioned to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of boom
Noun
  • Ohtani’s absence will be a blow for baseball’s Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park.
    — Dan Greenspan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
  • The Atlas Lions are the lone African team left in the competition and are looking to stun the footballing world with a takedown blow of Didier Deschamps’ 2018 World Cup champions in this revenge match.
    — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Almost two years ago, China’s east coast was smacked by one of the strongest storms in decades, which temporarily halted container operations at both Shanghai and Ningbo ports.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 July 2026
  • Gill saved the first shot in the penalty shootout against Germany, diving to his left and smacking away the ball headed for the back of the net.
    — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of smack
Noun
  • So the production would brave heavy winds with fireboats that could pummel the main boat with blasts of water to create storm effects.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • Their early live shows were marked by ominous guitar riffs, blast beats, and gruesome antics onstage, feeding into the early signs of a new heavy metal subgenre that would become death metal.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of blast
Noun
  • There are genuine laughs sprinkled in but too many elements land with a thud — including an excessive amount of comedic gore that grows tiresome and a mailman/narrator gag that just isn’t funny.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • Regardless of motive, the proposals that have come out of MLB’s New York headquarters have been vast and aggressive, and have landed with a thud in both clubhouses around the league, and with people who cover the sport for a living.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of thud

Phrases Containing clap

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clansmen
clap
clapped
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Cite this Entry

“Clap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clap. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on clap

Nglish: Translation of clap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clap

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