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 entire gymnasium roared with claps and cheers, the loudest and most fervent applause of the evening. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 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

Verb

Even as Heath stumbles his way through the lyrics, the audience respectfully claps along to the beat. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 After the tragedy in the stadium, Haymitch claps in front of the mostly empty, save for guards and Peacekeepers, stands. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for claps

Noun

There’s no shortage of snapbacks, piercings, baby bangs and baggy jorts.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Swift's signature bangs were brushed to one side, swooping over one brow.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of bangs

Verb

Someone slaps a strip of medical tape across their lips, promises you deeper sleep, fewer snores and a sharper jawline by morning, then cuts to a dreamy sunrise shot.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
As the child puts his hands up, Bible says Campbell slaps them away, then drags him off the field.

— Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of slaps

Noun

Discordant keys fly like daggers while snares trip over bass thuds; there’s a jazzy piano interlude, and then a murderous hard-rock siege razes the mix to the ground.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026
Almost every night in Riyadh brings the bass-drum booms and thuds of interceptors launching to destroy incoming projectiles.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of thuds

Verb

Anxiety knocks people off autopilot, sharpens attention and sends them looking for new information.

— Monique Mitchell Turner, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
The Newmark report also knocks the draft deal for saddling Miami-Dade with too many risks of cost overruns and other risks that a private company would typically shoulder in a venture like this one.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of knocks

Noun

Tensions between the two Koreas have been high since mine blasts at their border last month wounded three South Korean soldiers.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
The blasts sparked an engine-room fire that disabled the vessel, the agency said, adding that the crew was safe.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of blasts

Noun

Once upon a time, Georgia-Florida was an annual heavyweight fight, two proud programs trading punches and championships while their fans traded insults and cocktails in Jacksonville.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026
Michael rolls with his partner’s punches, seeing it as ordinary courtroom tussling.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026