variants
also clapt
as in slapped
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clapped
Every time a council member expressed disapproval of the recommendations or questioned the data, the supporters clapped.
—
Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
As Jenkins slowly stepped out wearing an off-the-shoulder gown from Lillian Ruth Bride, custom-altered by Jordyn White and styled by Nupt Styling, everyone gasped and clapped.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The people in the plaza alternately booed and clapped, unsure whether to welcome the détente.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
Dart stood up and clapped once.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Yet Kittle, perhaps knowing the worst, clapped for his 49ers' teammates even as he was carted off the field late in the first half of Sunday's wild-card playoff game at Philadelphia.
—CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The attendees immediately clapped.
—Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Liu clapped when Levito’s score was read amid her own warm-up, then ripped through the debut of her new free skate set to a medley of Lady Gaga songs.
—Dave Skretta, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
The dancers wove through the crowd as others clapped along in raucous celebration.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
As Jenkins slowly stepped out wearing an off-the-shoulder gown from Lillian Ruth Bride, custom-altered by Jordyn White and styled by Nupt Styling, everyone gasped and clapped.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The people in the plaza alternately booed and clapped, unsure whether to welcome the détente.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
Dart stood up and clapped once.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Yet Kittle, perhaps knowing the worst, clapped for his 49ers' teammates even as he was carted off the field late in the first half of Sunday's wild-card playoff game at Philadelphia.
—CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
The attendees immediately clapped.
—Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Liu clapped when Levito’s score was read amid her own warm-up, then ripped through the debut of her new free skate set to a medley of Lady Gaga songs.
—Dave Skretta, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
The dancers wove through the crowd as others clapped along in raucous celebration.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clapped
Verb
-
For perhaps the direction WWE is going with this match, backstage, Zayn slapped Drew McIntyre in the face.—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Trump had previously slapped a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and its European allies over the issue of Greenland, rattling much of Europe.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stout yelled at Valkyrie about going to the bathroom several times on Saturday and smacked the girl at least twice, the mother told police.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Sixers smacked the Raptors.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The injury that knocked Denver’s Bo Nix out of the playoffs has created a most unusual situation with Jarrett Stidham set to start the AFC title game after not throwing a single pass during a game the last two seasons.—
Josh Dubow,
Twin Cities,
21 Jan. 2026
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Also on Monday, a 10-year-old boy escaped unharmed after a shark knocked him off his surfboard and bit a chunk out of it, while a day earlier, another boy was left in critical condition after being bitten at a city beach.—
Alasdair Pal,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Wilson slammed Homeland Security officials for the shooting that came a day after a woman was fatally shot by immigration agents in Minneapolis.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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Many Democrats have slammed the administration's conclusions, arguing that the video does not appear to show the woman trying to hit officers.—
Maggie Vespa,
NBC news,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In recent weeks, defense secretary Pete Hegseth has banged the drum about the Pentagon’s desire to be a tech-focused, AI-first department.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Kicker Wil Lutz banged home four field goals, including the eventual game-winning chip-shot.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After Patriots senior Taylor Perry scored the first bucket of the second quarter to cap off a 9-2 run, the Cavers punched back with an 8-0 run that lasted more than five minutes to regain their five-point lead before going into halftime up six.—
Breven Honda,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
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The fight escalated, and the man punched the 46-year-old conductor before taking off, according to police.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Citing preliminary information, police said the driver turned north from Bovet Road onto South El Camino and hit the pedestrian in the north crosswalk of South El Camino Real at 17th Avenue.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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The Torreys hit just one of eight shots in the quarter and committed five turnovers, most of them against Parker’s full-court press.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Rasmus Dahlin and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen weren’t on the same page playing a puck behind the net, and Mavrik Bourque whacked a rebound in with Dahlin as the closest Sabre in coverage.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
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The head-to-head results — SDSU smacked Fresno State, and FSU whacked Boise State — clearly indicate the Broncos are slotted in the right place.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clapped. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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