popping

present participle of pop
1
as in exploding
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 snapping
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
4

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 popping But Suzuki’s two-footedness meant he was relaxed in playing between them, popping passes into the spare player in midfield. Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The eye-popping financial and human costs of post-9/11 security have obscured other consequences. Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 That shift is why sound bath benefits keep popping up in conversations about how the setting of a first date shapes what happens next. Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026 Ocado sales of shandy have climbed by 40% year-on-year, said Rachel Dixon in The Guardian, and the drink is popping up in supermarkets everywhere. Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026 The superstar has been spotted out and about in Manhattan this week, popping up at various outdoor dining establishments. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026 The sporty outerwear has since become a transitional dressing essential, with plenty more affordable versions popping up from Quince, Gap, and more. Jordan Julian, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026 When a consumer arrives at the nut butter section of the Co-op, there are some eye-popping numbers at first glance. Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026 Cases of officers using the cameras to stalk spouses and civilians also continue popping up all over the country. Noah Daly september 2, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
  • The cost of living for middle class families for average Americans is exploding.
    NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Octane measures how well fuel resists exploding prematurely under compression in a gasoline engine.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • For those who didn't feel like giving the big UMass-Rutgers game Thursday night your time and effort, the Minutemen stunned Greg Schiano's group, 37-21, snapping a 16-game losing streak to FBS teams.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Edman led the team with four, but Hernández’ second knock was the most important one, snapping the skid and taking Tarik Skubal off the hook for a loss.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Andrew Haigh is a master of restraint, a talent that he’s often weaponized against his own creations to beautiful and shattering effect.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Last year’s record-shattering monsoon season is heightening the urgency to invest in climate resilience.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Oil has moved firmly above $100 a barrel, diesel is at a record, and gas prices are shooting higher again.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The heightened presence combined with the absence of street lights on multiple blocks throughout the neighborhood − including the one where both shooting incidents occurred − has left Taylor on edge.
    April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Bowie planned to put the bomb in a delivery bag and escape to Syria after detonating it, the complaint alleges.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Just weeks before her confrontation with Cunningham, Carrington sent shockwaves through the WNBA by publicly detonating her former relationship on social media.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Traditional Republicans who have supported, or at least gone along with, the party’s attacks on Muslims and immigrants and its rejection of democratic norms have spoken out against cracking the door open for anti-Semites.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Others are dressing up as John Politics in convincing cosplay, or cracking jokes about Powell as an alternate reality diplomat.
    Owen Carry, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This would prevent cyclists from smashing into car doors opened into bike lanes, McDermott said.
    Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Boteli sealed his hat-trick at the Johan Cruyff Arena after charging down the right flank, chopping inside and smashing into the far corner on his left foot.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Naturally, the privilege of drilling your marketing messages into the skulls of TV’s last great mass audience comes at a price.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The company constantly collects data to optimize its operation, since longer drilling times translate to higher costs.
    Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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