POPPED Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

popped

verb

past tense of pop

as in exploded

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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as in shattered

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive popping popcorn over a campfire

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 popped Sesko popped up with what United thought was a winner, but yet more fragility at the back cost them. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 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 In the decades since, hundreds of recreational via ferratas have popped up on mountains across the globe. — Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Data center proposals have popped up across Johnson County in recent months. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026 Shares of Five Below popped at Thursday’s open after the discount retailer beat expectations for its fiscal second quarter and raised its full-year guidance the prior evening . — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 However, Gyllenhaal popped in to let the chief off the hook a bit. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Lobbying blitz on Capitol Hill A dizzying array of new lobbying groups have also popped up on both sides. — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for popped

Verb

After a series of slouchy suits and bustier dresses in turquoise and scarlet silks, the show exploded to black, culminating in a series of bravado gowns.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Temascalcingo, MexicoAP — Pyrotechnic material exploded during the festival for a patron saint in a town in Mexico State, collapsing a wall, killing at least 10 people and injuring another 64, Mexican authorities said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of exploded

Verb

Ethan Ampadu snapped into tackles, Noah Okafor had the beating of Ferdi Kadioglu and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a menace with his physicality.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
By the museum’s front steps, in the shadow of the main building, Qassem Hassan Nasser leaned in close with a camera and snapped a high-resolution photo of a wooden artifact.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of snapped

Verb

The Commanders elected to cut Moody after the first preseason game — a game in which Moody clanked a 29-yarder off the upright and through and Stevens drilled his only attempt, from 41 yards.

— Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Miles of steel cables were drilled at least a foot deep into the mountain rock, to ensure dozens of climbers are safe to traverse the mountainside simultaneously.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of drilled

Verb

Igor Kirillov, a general in charge of the Russian military’s nuclear and chemical weapons protection forces, was killed in December 2024 when an explosive device planted on a scooter was detonated near him.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
The missiles detonated above a sports complex and two residential neighborhoods, Airwars found.

— Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of detonated

Verb

In 2023, an armed robber smashed into a luxury London home where the actress was staying with her husband, musician Malcolm McRae.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
That crossing was close to where part of a glacier broke away and smashed into a river valley 4,000 feet below.

— Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of smashed

Verb

Also mentioned around the time of the Remix reveal was an imminent update to the standalone base Polymega unit, which doesn’t need a PC t0 run and can be plugged directly into a TV or monitor via HDMI.

— Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
What a new staff means for Benton The previous coaching staff immediately plugged Benton in as a nose tackle in the base defense and was reluctant to move him.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of plugged

Verb

But then on Sunday, McFarlane blew a save by serving up a three-run blast to Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
On third down, the offensive line blew open a big hole and running back Kameron Lee found it, popping out with a 13-yard run to get the Tigers out of trouble as the third quarter ended.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of blew

Browse Nearby Words

pop off

popped

popped (in)

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Style

“Popped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popped. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of popped

verb

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