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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pop
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Most vegetable seeds sprout in one to two weeks but some pop up in just several days.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026
Elliott Harrell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR fund (XLK) jumped around 2%, while the S&P 500 popped 1%.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
But how did Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad go from low-key Swedish folk performers to one of the most commercially successful bands in the history of pop music?
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pop
Noun
As weed’s role in society has morphed, so has its part in pop culture.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Most vegetable seeds sprout in one to two weeks but some pop up in just several days.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
During the summer, pop it into an insulated lunchbag to help reduce any meltage from sitting on the tarmac.
—Elliott Harrell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR fund (XLK) jumped around 2%, while the S&P 500 popped 1%.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Everyone from pop icon Madonna to global girl group KATSEYE.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
But how did Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad go from low-key Swedish folk performers to one of the most commercially successful bands in the history of pop music?
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pop
Verb
-
When a Lake Dallas home exploded last month, critically injuring a woman inside, investigators said natural gas from a leaking pipe fueled the blast.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
That struggle exploded into the Investiture Controversy, one of the most consequential conflicts of the Middle Ages, and lay crucial groundwork for the Magna Carta, the first document to hold royalty subject to the law.—
Joëlle Rollo-Koster,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Astros, swept in Colorado last week, snapped an eight-game losing streak.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Fitzgerald was also the focal point for head coach Tom Landry’s reintroduction to the shotgun offense, having no issue snapping the ball to Roger Staubach from a further distance.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Lyrids are known for producing bright, fast-moving meteors that tend to lack persistent trails, but have the potential to spawn spectacular fireballs as larger chunks of Comet Thatcher smash into Earth's atmosphere.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In footage shared by the BBC on X, Medvedev, who suffered a 6-0 6-0 loss during the 49-minute match, was filmed smashing up his tennis racket six times and angrily tossing it across the court.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The man accused of shooting and killing a baby girl in Brooklyn is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
On Saturday, April 11, two Kroger customers were in the store's parking lot in Indianapolis when one man shot another.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The cozy fleece bottoms have a flattering straight-leg fit and feature subtle side piping, giving them a fashionable, sporty effect.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Off-ball linebackers, the fashionable new name for what was previously called inside linebackers, are in plentiful supply in the NFL draft.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The bombs did not detonate and no one was injured.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors say the pair threw two devices containing the explosive TATP and shrapnel, but the jar-sized bombs failed to detonate.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The operation shattered Hezbollah's communications network and became the benchmark in Israel for a strike that fundamentally changed the battlefield.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Democrats Beto O'Rourke in 2018 in Texas and Jaime Harrison in 2020 in South Carolina shattered fundraising records and still lost to their Republican rivals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Senior catcher Olivia Picciola promptly drilled a two-run double for Lockport, creating a 6-6 tie in a game that featured four ties and four lead changes.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Both players were running on the 1-and-2 pitch to José Caballero, who drilled a line drive into left center.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
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 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
