Thesaurus results for CLAPS

claps 1 of 2

noun

plural of clap

as in bangs

a loud explosive sound a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in thumps

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

claps

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of clap

as in slaps

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

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 claps

Noun

The Golf Channel would always be playing in the background; the soft claps were the soundtrack to our slow Saturdays. — Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 One of the moments in the musical that caused the most laughter and claps from the audience was the final song, which mocks the idea of using violence as a form of protest rather than joining a movement or focusing on policy. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026 There were the polite claps after good attacks by the Swiss, sarcastic whistles by the Qatari fans after their team again failed to mount a threat. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026 Other players, especially the younger players and newcomers, did head over toward La Familia and give them waves and claps. — Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 There was no standing ovation, only a few sporadic claps mixed in with folks cheering for Fitzpatrick. — Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026 That’ll be the stormiest period of the weekend, with gusts up to 40 mph and potentially more claps of thunder. — Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026 Tears flowed, and the audience held space for grief, offering supportive claps and chants. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2026 These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026

Verb

The hugs, smiles and claps around the FDJ Suez bus told a different story, however. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Claire Foy claps from the stands on Day 9 of Wimbledon in London on July 7. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 The crowd claps and cheers, screaming wildly when Buteau drops it rather politely before strutting with Peppermint to their seats on stage. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 Feint claps for the President could be heard on the ABC broadcast, but they were overwhelmed by the Bronx cheer. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 9 June 2026 Anderson stops at second base, claps his hands four times, then stands there quietly. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026 His climber fails to get Camper Kyle to the ground in time, but Bauer claps enthusiastically. — Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026 Poor Indigenous, Black, the people from the favelas, when the police go there and kill 120 people there, and the population basically claps and thinks that that’s great. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2025 Legacy is made from the small, repeatable disciplines no one claps for, but everyone benefits from. — Cody Bjugan, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for claps

Noun

Wills had been in a meeting and recalled a fireball flying past and singeing her bangs.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
In place of the blunt bangs, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of bangs

Verb

Soto, looking irritated, reaches out and slaps him upside the head.

— Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Helmut Haller, West Germany vs England, 1966 Ray Wilson misjudges his headed clearance, Haller gathers it on the edge of the box and, just before Bobby Moore can close him down, slaps a right-footed shot into the far corner.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of slaps

Noun

Cities that saw outsized pandemic-era migration and construction booms are now working through excess supply, producing the only sustained year-over-year price declines in the country.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
The former offensive lineman is a towering presence on the practice field, and his voice booms across the field even with whistles and music blaring.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of booms

Verb

When a headline knocks a stock down, the useful question is whether anything inside the business moved.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Brink is no stranger to the injury bug, as this is just the latest in a series of knocks the Sparks center has taken recently.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of knocks

Noun

Elordi’s performance is a fine one, but any emotional current from the screen to the audience is made choppy by mawkish blasts to the past, Hig at the edge of his bed, head in hands.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026
The money, aimed at text message blasts and phone calls to voters, marks a major investment for the group that up until now has been largely silent in this year's contests.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of blasts

Noun

During Monday’s press conference, Bessent sought to tamp down on criticism that the administration was pulling its punches.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026
Tea slushies, lemonades, fruit punches, and aguas frescas are confidently complete on their own; a splash of a spirit is an optional pairing rather than the standard offering.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026