as in cheering
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clapping
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
As the Illinois coach bounced around in the streams of water, Tyler Underwood stood nearby, laughing and clapping.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Attendees met the kick-off with clapping, whooping and chanting.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
The crowd erupted into cheers and clapping.
—Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Bob Saget’s widow, Kelly Rizzo, praised Stamos, adding several clapping emojis.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Others surged towards the casket, dancing, clapping, ululating; all through tears.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Lindo received a standing ovation, during which Jordan could be seen smiling at his co-star from the audience and clapping.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
Mustard’s buoyant, clapping beat work defines a whole era of Los Angeles hip-hop.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
An early scene sees the twins caught up in a flurry of breathless games, clapping in unison, finishing each other’s rhymes.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Not just clapping, but pounding his fists against his chest.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
At the March 14 Las Vegas wedding ceremony, Zendaya could be seen posing with the couple and clapping along as the newlyweds shared their first kiss.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
My mother was clapping her hands.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
The room swelled with hooting and clapping as Samson Fellows climbed onstage.
—Hazlitt, 11 Mar. 2026
Doncic’s technical was his 14th of the season – he wasn’t whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
Doncic received his 14th technical foul of the season in the second quarter, and he wasn't whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
There was no clapping or audible reaction from the audience in the courtroom.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
As the Illinois coach bounced around in the streams of water, Tyler Underwood stood nearby, laughing and clapping.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Attendees met the kick-off with clapping, whooping and chanting.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026
The crowd erupted into cheers and clapping.
—Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Bob Saget’s widow, Kelly Rizzo, praised Stamos, adding several clapping emojis.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Others surged towards the casket, dancing, clapping, ululating; all through tears.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Lindo received a standing ovation, during which Jordan could be seen smiling at his co-star from the audience and clapping.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
Mustard’s buoyant, clapping beat work defines a whole era of Los Angeles hip-hop.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
A lot of the percussion in the score, in fact, is the Wells Cathedral school kids clapping and stomping.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
An early scene sees the twins caught up in a flurry of breathless games, clapping in unison, finishing each other’s rhymes.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Not just clapping, but pounding his fists against his chest.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
At the March 14 Las Vegas wedding ceremony, Zendaya could be seen posing with the couple and clapping along as the newlyweds shared their first kiss.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
My mother was clapping her hands.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
The room swelled with hooting and clapping as Samson Fellows climbed onstage.
—Hazlitt, 11 Mar. 2026
Doncic’s technical was his 14th of the season – he wasn’t whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
Doncic received his 14th technical foul of the season in the second quarter, and he wasn't whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clapping
Noun
-
From competitive runners sprinting across the finish line to families and first-time participants soaking in the atmosphere, the event carried a festival-like energy throughout the morning, complete with music, cheering crowds, and emcee callouts celebrating runners from across Georgia and beyond.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The cheering and thumping rolled like thunder when Arizona’s first 3-pointer, a shot by Brayden Burries, went in.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When the Rockets called a time out, the Lakers bench all ran over to Doncic, hugging him, slapping him and James nudging him for a job very well done.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
About 15 minutes later, another 911 call comes in from a woman named Jane Kowalski, who sees Denise Lee slapping the back window of King's car and hears her screaming for help.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The menu is a tribute to both French and North Vietnamese cuisine, and one of the most popular dishes is the Sapa trout ceviche, mango and salmon caviar.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Kluge was honored by the Venice Film Festival in 2007 with a special program dedicated to his works and received several tributes during his career from the Berlin Film Festival.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But a leadoff walk in the top of the 9th allowed Eugenio Suárez to knock in what would prove to be the winning run, smacking a double to left center field and scoring pinch runner Javier Sonoja.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Her furious attempts to extricate herself from Ramirez ended with her smacking her head on the parking lot asphalt and Ramirez hitting her in the right eye, according to the arrest report.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The antiprotons were then taken back to the lab in Tuesday's final stage that concluded with applause and a bottle of Champagne.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The difference between the applause Knight and Keller received during Storrie’s monologue versus the Hughes brothers was glaring (as was their far superior joke delivery).—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Things got worse for the Wild a few shifts later when Spurgeon foiled a Florida rush to the Minnesota net, but went down at full speed and slid hard into the goalpost, knocking the net off the moorings.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The level 3 out of 5, or the area with numerous severe thunderstorms, is literally knocking on the door.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Over the last 40 years, their lives and careers all took divergent paths marked by innovation, acclaim, and infamy.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Following successful tenures at Lacoste and Carven, her Bottega Veneta debut arrived to strong acclaim—and, to no one’s surprise, full shopping carts.—
Laura Jackson,
Vogue,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that while LaBeouf’s attorneys were still aggressively pursuing their position and seeking monetary compensation from Barnett, a partying LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans on assault charges for allegedly punching two bar patrons.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
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Everyone should be protecting their skulls 200 percent more in this situation and ideally also not punching each other.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clapping. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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