as in bang
a loud explosive sound
the soda can opened with a sharp pop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in dad
a male human parent
ask your pop if he knows where the keys to the shed are
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
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.
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Recent Examples of pop
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Joe formed the funk-pop group DNCE in 2015.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
In 2018, however, the postcranial bones popped up in a collection of tens of thousands.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Tracy Chapman, Queen Latifah — these were the pop stars of her generation, at least to Amaarae.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pop
Noun
Fans are currently gearing up for the premiere of Stranger Things season 5, which marks the conclusion to the pop culture phenomenon that began back in 2016.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Joe formed the funk-pop group DNCE in 2015.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
The whistles blew on the 4-yard loss, but not before the football popped loose.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
In 2018, however, the postcranial bones popped up in a collection of tens of thousands.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The show, based on Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington and StudioCanal’s 2014 movie, features music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, founding member of of pop band McFly, and a book by filmmaker and screenwriter Jessica Swale (Summerland).
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Tracy Chapman, Queen Latifah — these were the pop stars of her generation, at least to Amaarae.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pop
Verb
-
Propane tanks are actually more likely to explode due to excessive heat in the summer.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Autumn is when the park really explodes in color.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Dolphins snapped a five-game losing streak against Buffalo.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The Horned Frogs outgained Iowa State 432-272, but failed to come out on top as the Cyclones snapped their four-game losing streak.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Within a few years of leaving Texas, Rauschenberg had upended everything the place had meant to him, smashing through the parochialism of small-town Southern life, where necks were broken in Jesus’ name, and families indentured or murdered.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Mantis shrimps can safely smash open clam shells with their claws.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fort Worth officers were called to John Peter Smith Hospital regarding a shooting victim who’d arrived for treatment.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Fears shot 0 of 7 from the field, scoring four points on six free-throw attempts, but tallied nine assists.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Limousines full of fashionable people would pull up to clubs called The Carousel, The Playpen, and The Pussycat Lounge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Setting the tone for what is sure to be a fashionable affair, the carpet brought out our most sartorial savvy faves across industries for a night celebrating craftsmanship and design.—
Cierra Black,
Refinery29,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the predawn hours of October 31, FBI agents descended on the Detroit suburb where the men lived and detonated smoke bombs before storming into their homes.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mamdani’s victory places him at the forefront of a global cohort of diaspora leaders who have shattered political ceilings in recent years.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kicker Kyson Scott drilled it, giving Lake Ridge a 38-20 lead at halftime.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rustin drilled Selva one last time on complex equations and imperial history.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Pop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pop. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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