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

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 claps

Noun

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 Lots of claps all around, as production in the area is still down significantly over five-year averages. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026

Verb

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 Audience member Najla Abdel Rahman Abbas claps along to the music, her face showing both sorrow and exuberance. — Intessar Fadl Allah, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for claps

Noun

Most recently, the star showed off eyelash-grazing full front bangs with chest-length tresses while attending the Christian Dior Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2026 show on January 26.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 July 2026
Emphasize your curls with a pixie cut with just enough layers and bangs to give shape.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 July 2026

Definition of bangs

Noun

Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.

— Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026

Definition of thumps

Verb

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
Wilhelm enters the room, removes most of his clothing and gets into bed with her, slaps her, pushes her away and then caresses her face and cradles her.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Definition of slaps

Noun

Oil price booms have increased Nigeria’s wealth, but an overdependence on crude has weakened investment in other sectors, while corruption and poor governance remain rampant.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
But this was a night that was about more than just all those booms.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of booms

Verb

Those knocks, a masterful performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and a late implosion set the Yankees up for an 8-2 loss in the first game of a split doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
My parents tell stories about me sleeping through loud construction, alarms, and heavy knocks on my bedroom door.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026

Definition of knocks

Noun

Rumors fill information void Syrian officials say the blasts that targeted government institutions and the French presidential convoy were the work of a cell affiliated with the Islamic State.

— Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026
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

Definition of blasts

Noun

With Gable and Rusev left standing, the two went back and forth with punches.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero was at the center of a tense scene on Monday night — one in which benches cleared, words were exchanged, but no punches were thrown.

— Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 21 July 2026