Synonyms of pop

pop 1 of 4

noun (1)

as in bang

a loud explosive sound

the soda can opened with a sharp pop

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bang
• boom
• clap
• blast
• crack
• slam
• crash
• whack
• smash
• thunderclap
• roar
• tap
• knock
• snap
• report
• whomp
• thwack
• whump
• thunk
• clash
• wham
• rap
• clang
• howl
• clank
• blare
• clangor
• hue and cry
• clamor
• outcry
• hubbub
• tumult
• hullabaloo
• uproar

pop

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in dad

a male human parent

ask your pop if he knows where the keys to the shed are

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dad
• father
• daddy
• pa
• papa
• old man
• sire
• pater
• patriarch
• father figure
• stepfather
• father image
• paterfamilias

pop

3 of 4

verb

ˈpäp 

1

as in to explode

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure

a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all

Synonyms & Similar Words

• explode
• detonate
• blow
• burst
• go off
• blow up
• crump
• smash
• fragment
• shatter
• fire
• splinter
• mushroom
• shoot
• balloon
• discharge
• burgeon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapse
• implode
• fizzle

2

as in to snap

to break suddenly with an explosive sound

the last strand popped, causing the chandelier to drop to the floor with a great crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

• snap
• crack
• explode
• burst
• crackle
• shatter
• split
• click
• hiss
• rend
• sputter
• sizzle
• rive
• clatter
• clack

3

as in to smash

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive

popping popcorn over a campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smash
• shatter
• demolish
• burst
• blow
• explode
• destroy
• blast
• blow up
• detonate
• ruin
• dynamite
• annihilate
• wreck
• fragment
• decimate
• discharge
• splinter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapse
• implode

4

as in to shoot

to strike with a missile from a gun

went into the woods hoping to pop the rabbit that was eating our vegetables

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoot
• drill
• gun
• drop
• plug
• kill
• destroy
• slay
• slaughter
• blow away
• pepper
• fire (at)
• bring down
• pick off
• blast (at)
• shoot down
• butcher
• fell
• blaze
• wipe out
• snipe (at)
• machine-gun
• ice
• massacre
• potshot
• blot out
• dispatch
• croak
• decimate
• annihilate
• shotgun
• tommy-gun
• pistol
• do in

pop

4 of 4

adjective

as in fashionable

enjoying widespread favor or approval

interested in the pop fiction that most of the other publishing houses happily churned out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fashionable
• popular
• favorite
• popularized
• large
• big
• hot
• happening
• vogue
• crowd-pleasing
• in
• faddish
• modish
• desirable
• red-hot
• voguish
• famous
• du jour
• preferred
• faddy
• fabulous
• celebrated
• prominent
• selected
• legendary
• wanted
• famed
• liked
• renowned
• notorious
• outstanding
• fabled
• important
• leading
• noted
• notable
• remarkable
• significant
• well-known
• semipopular

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• out
• unfashionable
• unpopular
• rejected
• disliked
• insignificant
• unimportant
• hated
• despised
• detested
• washed-up
• obscure
• unknown
• unexceptional
• anonymous
• inconspicuous
• nameless
• indistinguished

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pop

Verb

Linebacker D’Marco Jackson popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an ankle injury. — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

Swastikas popped up near a polling place in Orlando’s Orange County. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

Adjective

The pope’s pop-culture knowledge has made its way into other works beyond his book. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2026

Steve Ellis, the singer of British pop-rock band Love Affair, has died. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing pop

• a pop
• pop (in)
• pop off

Video

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Associate Editor Serenity Carr looks at onomatopoeic words you might not expect, such as bounce and tinker.

Transcript:

When you think of the origins of a word, you think of Old English, or Old French, or Latin, or Sanskrit. But not all words come from a similar word in an older language. Some words come from imitations of the sounds associated with the thing they name. Some are obvious, like fizz, jingle, toot, and pop. Others are less obvious, like slap, bounce, tinker, and cough. So listen carefully to every grunt and murmur, to the prattle and babbling around you. You may be hearing more than just chit-chat.