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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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
Murals depicting him mid-throw popped up in the city virtually overnight.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Applovin — The software stock popped more than 6% on the heels of its better-than-expected quarterly results.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Even then, the first name that popped up was indeed Kravitz’s.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2025
Some have come as a surprise, but most of the big-name option decisions have popped up in reports and have been made official.
—Patrick McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The first one popped up in 2016 at the Guggenheim in New York City, where visitors were invited to use the sculpture.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
Most recently, Cook popped up at the Los Angeles premiere of Prinze's movie, The Girl in the Pool, in July 2024.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Meta has a long history of beating Wall Street estimates, and the company's stock popped 12% following its last report.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
After the Wild pressured, but did not score, on their first power play, the Sharks doubled their lead when Wallstedt thwarted a rush to the net, only to have the puck squirt through a crowd to rookie Michael Misa, who popped it past the goalie’s outstretched skate.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Applovin — The software stock popped more than 6% on the heels of its better-than-expected quarterly results.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Even then, the first name that popped up was indeed Kravitz’s.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2025
Some have come as a surprise, but most of the big-name option decisions have popped up in reports and have been made official.
—Patrick McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The first one popped up in 2016 at the Guggenheim in New York City, where visitors were invited to use the sculpture.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
Most recently, Cook popped up at the Los Angeles premiere of Prinze's movie, The Girl in the Pool, in July 2024.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Meta has a long history of beating Wall Street estimates, and the company's stock popped 12% following its last report.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
After the Wild pressured, but did not score, on their first power play, the Sharks doubled their lead when Wallstedt thwarted a rush to the net, only to have the puck squirt through a crowd to rookie Michael Misa, who popped it past the goalie’s outstretched skate.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popped
Verb
-
The Green Wave exploded on offense to take a 35-17 lead over the Tigers at halftime.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled its second Focus program for the 55th edition, turning the spotlight on Japan’s V-Cinema — the direct-to-video movement that exploded in the late 1980s and profoundly shaped the country’s contemporary film culture.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Arizona Cardinals have finally snapped their five-game losing streak, doing so in convincing fashion with a 27-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
As the ball was snapped, the Bengals rushed four, including cornerback Dax Hill.—
Kevin Fishbain,
New York Times,
3 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
-
Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
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
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
-
An additional 1,000 pounds of undetonated explosives were found after the blast and were safely detonated, officials said during a press briefing.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Other Black residents’ windshields were smashed.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Last night, tech giants like AMD smashed expectations on AI chip demand, and Palantir reported another quarter of strong growth.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, the shotgun approach keeps SNL plugged into the political conversation in a way that suits a politician with zero chill or focus.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Up front, senior Kahlil Williams and junior Rico Henderson plugged up the middle of the line, while junior Ben Rink and sophomore Lucas Lawson brought athleticism to the defensive end positions that Skyline couldn’t match.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Buffalo Bills were left stunned in Miami on Sunday afternoon as the Dolphins blew them out 30-13 in a crucial AFC East rivalry game.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Patriots were 8-2, headed for 14-2 and a comeback victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI in Houston, where Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead with Shanahan as offensive coordinator and New England won 34-28 in overtime.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Popped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popped. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share