1
as in exploded
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in snapped
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 shattered
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 drilled
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of popped
The second Emma Heming Willis popped up on the Zoom screen, a wave of grief washed over me.
—
David Oliver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The loud, colorful Northern Thai restaurant has always been a celeb magnet—Guillermo del Toro, Shawn Mendes, Jacob Elordi, James Harden and Simu Liu have all popped by in recent years.
—Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Brighthouse Financial — The insurance stock popped 11% after the Financial Times reported that private capital group Aquarian Holdings was in advanced talks with two Middle Eastern investors to finance its acquisition of Brighthouse .
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
In August 2017, PEOPLE exclusively confirmed the couple were in a relationship, and in 2021, Stonestreet officially popped the question to Schweitzer after five years of dating.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Calafiore popped the question to Laratta in a surprise proposal at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank, New Jersey, just as the sun was setting.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Ultraslim soles have since popped up everywhere from Louis Vuitton to Adidas—but the OG pair is still our favorite investment of the bunch.
—Amina Ayoud, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
Almost instantaneously, headlines inaccurately stating that Europe had banned all gel manicures popped up, quickly followed by fact-free fearmongering on social media.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Sep. 2025
Signs of protest have popped up outside the single-story Looney Tunes building that is scheduled to be razed to make way for base camp space.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025
David Oliver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The loud, colorful Northern Thai restaurant has always been a celeb magnet—Guillermo del Toro, Shawn Mendes, Jacob Elordi, James Harden and Simu Liu have all popped by in recent years.
—Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Brighthouse Financial — The insurance stock popped 11% after the Financial Times reported that private capital group Aquarian Holdings was in advanced talks with two Middle Eastern investors to finance its acquisition of Brighthouse .
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
In August 2017, PEOPLE exclusively confirmed the couple were in a relationship, and in 2021, Stonestreet officially popped the question to Schweitzer after five years of dating.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Calafiore popped the question to Laratta in a surprise proposal at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank, New Jersey, just as the sun was setting.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Ultraslim soles have since popped up everywhere from Louis Vuitton to Adidas—but the OG pair is still our favorite investment of the bunch.
—Amina Ayoud, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
Almost instantaneously, headlines inaccurately stating that Europe had banned all gel manicures popped up, quickly followed by fact-free fearmongering on social media.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Sep. 2025
Signs of protest have popped up outside the single-story Looney Tunes building that is scheduled to be razed to make way for base camp space.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popped
Verb
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But his career really exploded a couple of years later, thanks to his starring role as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.—
Keith Langston,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
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Seguin shut out Burleson 21-0, and Martin’s offense exploded for 74 points in a victory over Mansfield.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Quarterback and comedian snapped a picture together.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Rhamondre Stevenson also out-snapped the rookie 46 to 25 on offense, a ratio that ought to even out considering Henderson was the only one who broke a tackle between them.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Getty Images The nascent campaign has already shattered the record for philanthropic money raised in support of hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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When your industry is being shattered by greed?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Shrader moved 15 yards closer, and from 45 yards out drilled the kick through the uprights as Lucas Oil Stadium erupted in celebration of an improbable 29-28 win.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Aubrey — one of the very best in the league — had drilled a 64-yarder as regulation expired to force overtime.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israel’s concentration on destroying Gaza City’s infrastructure has utilized a variety of means, including heavy bombs and, recently, old armored vehicles laden with a large amount of explosives and detonated via remote control.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Sep. 2025
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In September 2024, Israel blew up the group’s pagers, causing gruesome injuries as the devices detonated in Hezbollah operatives’ pockets.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After McNeil refused to get out of his car, Bowers smashed the driver’s side window, punched McNeil in the head and pulled him out of the SUV.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Protesters smashed windows and looted local businesses and set government buildings on fire.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Although Harold is not literary fiction’s first obsessive ruminator, what makes Muscle Man feel so plugged into the moment is how common the predicament feels.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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For investors plugged into the Apple rumor mill, there were no major surprises.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More Ramirez/Getty Images On Thursday, after his team blew a 4-0 first-inning lead to lose 6-4 in the Phillies series finale, Mendoza accepted blame for the team's current skid.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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Sean Brock has been on a mission to create the perfect pizza after a meal at the pizza joint Savoy in Japan completely blew his mind.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Popped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popped. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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