pop 1 of 4

noun (1)

Definition of popnext
as in bang
a loud explosive sound the soda can opened with a sharp pop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

pop

3 of 4

verb

ˈpäp How to pronounce pop (audio)
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pop
Verb
Showing love for one of her favorite designers, Rodriguez popped into a pair of sleek black Gucci Donna pumps, currently retailing for $1,220 on the brand’s website. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026 The technique uses reflected light from a laser popped at a target to see the molecular structure of a mineral, which in turn reveals the mineral's composition. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
With his snug corset and unsubtle make-up and minuscule shorts to which are fastened fishnet stockings, Curry’s kooky scientist with a penchant for brewing male lovers in his lab is one of pop-culture’s unlikely icons. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 These guests indicate the album’s electronic foundations, with the project also aiming to center Angèle in the pop realm. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pop
  1. bang
  2. dad
  3. explode
  4. snap
  5. smash
  6. shoot
  7. fashionable
  8. boom
Noun
  • With incomings, Newcastle’s summer started with a whimper and ended with a bang, a slow-burn of early rejections from high-profile targets which did little to ease a sense of disquiet among supporters.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The catamaran, carrying 267 passengers and crew from Kyrenia to Turkey, sank in waters over 1,600 feet deep as survivors described loud bangs, sudden listing and passengers trapped inside.
    — Andrew Wilks, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of bang
Noun
  • The two, who were getting married on Lake Catherine, were celebrating their night before at Natalie’s dad’s house on the lake.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • His dad held the Bible as Blair posed with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, for a ceremonial swearing-in, a hallmark for new members of Congress.
    — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of dad
Verb
  • The match was instead a battle of strategy and focus, and a test of which player could execute her shots best under pressure, amid the excited buzz of a crowd waiting for reasons to explode.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The cost of living for middle class families for average Americans is exploding.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of explode
Verb
  • Some stakes eventually snapped under the weight of the changing components, further reducing the effectiveness of the collection mesh.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The measuring device is a small disc that snaps into the back of a person’s underwear.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of snap
Verb
  • Bayern smashed the record for goals in the Bundesliga last season, with 122 in the 34 matches.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Of the 2,977 people who perished on 9/11, 2,753 were lost in the collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center after two hijacked jetliners smashed into them.
    — Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of smash
Verb
  • Initially, responding officers believed one person had been shot, but more 911 calls came in reporting there was additional gunfire.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • It was shot after dark and follows the cast through the streets, waterfronts, cars and bridges of New York City.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of shoot
Adjective
  • The head-to-toe branding made tennis one of the most fashionable sports, taking its influence far beyond the court.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Alongside Kudrow, 63, and Sorvino, 58, as the fashionable BFF duo, other original cast members who are reprising their roles in the sequel, again scripted by Schiff, are Alan Cumming, Janeane Garofalo, Camryn Manheim and Julia Campbell.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fashionable
Noun
  • The continuous, 25-hour eruption of Anak Krakatau that produced a fountain of lava and a boom heard 700 kilometers (435 miles) away ended Sunday, the country's Geological Agency said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • How this fits into the delivery boom Delivery drones are starting to show up in more places, but most of them are still carrying pretty small loads.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of boom

Phrases Containing pop

Browse Nearby Words

poor-spirited
pop
pope
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pop. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on pop

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All