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
as in shattering
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 shooting
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 popping
The maximum memory capacity is now an eye-popping 256GB of DDR5, via four SO-DIMM RAM slots.
—
John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
King Arthur manuscript goes on sale A rare medieval manuscript featuring early tales of King Arthur and Merlin, which has been in private hands for about 700 years, is heading to auction with an eye-popping price tag.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
If Wilson formally announces, there will likely be other candidates popping up for a once-in-a-decade shot for a Democrat to run for a safe seat that has no incumbent to surmount.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Then there are the eye-popping asking prices on the World Cup secondary market.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 27 May 2026
In the summer of 1973, with gasoline shortages popping up around the country, Nixon’s economic team considered a tax hike of up to 10 cents a gallon, Knittel pointed out.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Proliferating bills Similar bills restricting access to these drugs are popping up across several states.
—Dara Kass, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Helprin's tree has also led to other wishing trees popping up around Portland, including one on North Williams Avenue between Northeast Shaver Street and Northeast Mason Street that has plenty of wishes tied to it, according to Atlas Obscura.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
All that, plus Liev Schreiber as a pill-popping philanderer named Tag, Dakota Fanning in pregnancy prosthetics, and Donna Lynne Champlin as the beleaguered detective trying to solve the murder.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
King Arthur manuscript goes on sale A rare medieval manuscript featuring early tales of King Arthur and Merlin, which has been in private hands for about 700 years, is heading to auction with an eye-popping price tag.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
If Wilson formally announces, there will likely be other candidates popping up for a once-in-a-decade shot for a Democrat to run for a safe seat that has no incumbent to surmount.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Then there are the eye-popping asking prices on the World Cup secondary market.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 27 May 2026
In the summer of 1973, with gasoline shortages popping up around the country, Nixon’s economic team considered a tax hike of up to 10 cents a gallon, Knittel pointed out.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Proliferating bills Similar bills restricting access to these drugs are popping up across several states.
—Dara Kass, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Helprin's tree has also led to other wishing trees popping up around Portland, including one on North Williams Avenue between Northeast Shaver Street and Northeast Mason Street that has plenty of wishes tied to it, according to Atlas Obscura.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
All that, plus Liev Schreiber as a pill-popping philanderer named Tag, Dakota Fanning in pregnancy prosthetics, and Donna Lynne Champlin as the beleaguered detective trying to solve the murder.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
-
Finally, should the government have more control over the exploding field of artificial intelligence?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
This means black holes go out with a bang, with lower-mass PBHs exploding at different epochs of the universe.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The Giants won for just the second time in nine games while snapping Milwaukee's three-game win streak.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
The catch is that your phone has to serve your observation rather than replace it—snapping a photo can sharpen your attention and memory of the moment later on, but be intentional about focusing on the sky and not your screen.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Over the prairie there would be lightning that evening, dropping in shattering bolts from swollen purple clouds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Renowned for his defense-shattering runs, vision, and dribbling, his time at FC Barcelona was legendary.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
As the Jim Jacobses and John Deckers were shooting the last elk of Pennsylvania, their western counterparts were doing their part to exterminate the species continent-wide.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Kingsbury, continuing the painstaking review of security camera footage that has marked the trial, said Sergio Harris, 38, was the first to open fire, fatally shooting Davazia Turner before Harris, himself, was killed.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Investigators found that Aliji intended to drive a Volkswagen Beetle equipped with fake police sirens and flashing blue lights toward crowds outside the venue before detonating explosives concealed inside a Red Bull can.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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Its material originated during October 1977 sessions at Memphis’ Ardent Studios, where the original lineup — the late Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox — worked with Chilton shortly before detonating the underground rock landscape.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The one-liners, which Foxworthy began cracking in the late 1980s, helped propel the comedian to mainstream stardom in the 90s.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
Further, when algorithms are periodically strengthened to account for advances in cracking abilities, the process occurs automatically, with no interaction required.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Video shows a gang of Pokémon card thieves smashing display cases at a New Jersey hobby store and filling a trash bag with thousands of dollars worth of collectibles, according to police.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
In 2016, voters were asked to choose between a populist candidate dogged by questions about his integrity, judgment, decency, civility, empathy, and respect for everyone from complete strangers to his own wife, and an overqualified, glass-ceiling-smashing woman.—
Shannon A. Mullen,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
After drilling a 3-pointer on the Knicks’ opening possession, Brunson missed his next six shots.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2026
-
Any time not spent on active duty is completed in reserve status, often the Individual Ready Reserve, meaning the physician is not drilling but remains subject to recall.—
Robert Krasner,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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