as in slapping
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
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as in cheering
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clapping
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
An air cast was placed over his leg before Hill – cheering and clapping, while acknowledging the cheers of fans – was taken off the field on a cart.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Pirates players stood at their dugout railing, watching in appreciation, many clapping.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Mickey picked the carcass up by the tail, Kelly clapping and rushing forward.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
The spirit tunnel, as the talk show has dubbed it, features crew members singing and clapping as guests on the show walk down a hallway to the set.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
When the camera panned to Alec, he was seen clapping but not smiling after the performance.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Alec was seen clapping, but fans instantly noticed the expression on his face.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The Boombox 3 saves you from that pity clapping and actually lets the music take over.
—PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2025
Seth Emerson, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Wearing a yellow fringed dress, Jauregui spun and shook her hips alongside a safety vest-wearing Armstrong, ending the performance by quick-stepping over to the cocktail table, where her bandmates and Bankhead were smiling and clapping in celebration.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
Carey said, clapping after celebrating her VMAs victories.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
She could be seen lifting her arm to show her tattooed torso on the right side before clapping her hands together and smiling at the camera.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Frankie returned the sentiment by clapping his hands after petting the dog.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Speaking of rambunctious audiences, the crazy laudatory-clapping disease has infected the Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
After the Tar Heels began the 2025 season with an opening-drive touchdown, Tar Heels legendary former head basketball coach Roy Williams was clapping in his own suite alongside Michael Jordan, the UNC sensation who turned into one of the best NBA players of all time.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the video, Kotb could be seen clapping as a friend brought Waffles out of a car to her daughters, who were standing in their driveway waiting to meet their new furry friend.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Images released by the sheriff's office show Silverstone being wheeled out of the hospital to a crowd of about 140 first responders and hospital staff, clapping and holding blue balloons, Silverstone’s favorite color, according to the news release.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
An air cast was placed over his leg before Hill – cheering and clapping, while acknowledging the cheers of fans – was taken off the field on a cart.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Pirates players stood at their dugout railing, watching in appreciation, many clapping.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Mickey picked the carcass up by the tail, Kelly clapping and rushing forward.
—David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
The spirit tunnel, as the talk show has dubbed it, features crew members singing and clapping as guests on the show walk down a hallway to the set.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
When the camera panned to Alec, he was seen clapping but not smiling after the performance.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Alec was seen clapping, but fans instantly noticed the expression on his face.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The Boombox 3 saves you from that pity clapping and actually lets the music take over.
—PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Officials stopped play, at first saying Smart called timeout, then waving off the timeout, saying Smart had only been clapping — although cameras appeared to show him making a timeout signal.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Wearing a yellow fringed dress, Jauregui spun and shook her hips alongside a safety vest-wearing Armstrong, ending the performance by quick-stepping over to the cocktail table, where her bandmates and Bankhead were smiling and clapping in celebration.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
Carey said, clapping after celebrating her VMAs victories.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
She could be seen lifting her arm to show her tattooed torso on the right side before clapping her hands together and smiling at the camera.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Frankie returned the sentiment by clapping his hands after petting the dog.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Speaking of rambunctious audiences, the crazy laudatory-clapping disease has infected the Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
After the Tar Heels began the 2025 season with an opening-drive touchdown, Tar Heels legendary former head basketball coach Roy Williams was clapping in his own suite alongside Michael Jordan, the UNC sensation who turned into one of the best NBA players of all time.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In the video, Kotb could be seen clapping as a friend brought Waffles out of a car to her daughters, who were standing in their driveway waiting to meet their new furry friend.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clapping
Verb
-
Another victim came to court, recounting a history of domestic abuse including choking and slapping by the defendant.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Payton lit into Moss on the sideline, slapping his clipboard, after the cornerback got a bit too handsy with Giants receiver Beaux Collins in the end zone.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The researchers then interviewed runners to understand what types of cheering had seemed helpful or unhelpful.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Leaning from the windows, the passengers smiled and waved to cheering crowds eagerly awaiting their return.—
Elmira Aliieva,
NBC news,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The two had a peculiar conversation where Hawkins said Clifton missed smacking her rear end.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The first of 12 projects outlined in the book is a literal slapstick, the classic vaudeville tool used to imitate the sound of smacking someone with a stick.—
Michael Roberts,
Outside,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Several of the the show's stars paid tribute to the long-running series in the wake of Monday's news.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The tribute also noted that Funkhouser served in Iraq as a member of the Virginia Army National Guard.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Sneaker waves are especially concerning, capable of knocking people off their feet, pulling them into cold ocean water, or trapping them under logs.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Fake applause, no support or faithful and never switching.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The universal love is the applause, either heard in person or received from afar, a love reinforced by the sense of an instant, intimate family—a life backstage or in the trailer, far more interesting than the often unhappy family left behind.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Vrabel’s methods are working, because the Patriots are exceeding expectations and punching above their weight atop the AFC East standings.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The video, which has more than 1,000 shares, captured a woman punching another woman on a counter when a man with a gray shirt walked up to them.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dean is one of the most promising singer-songwriters of 2025, earning critical acclaim for her new album, The Art of Loving.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Mario Cuomo, born in Queens, rose from a legal assistant to governor, earning national acclaim for his 1984 Democratic Convention keynote address and his leadership during his three terms.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clapping. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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