1
as in exploding
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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of popping
Does Link have a pill-popping problem now?
—
Max Gao, Variety, 8 May 2026
One of the major keys to popping curls is a healthy scalp, and this two-in-one cleanser and scrub keeps roots and follicles in prime condition so hair can flourish.
—Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
Schylling is also warning shoppers to steer clear of counterfeit versions popping up online amid the viral demand.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Denim sneakers have been popping up across the board from different brands over the last year, but Vans is taking its commitment to the material to another level.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
And then there’s a sprawling array of official and unofficial art happenings popping up around the lagoons and the surrounding islands.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 5 May 2026
Indian restaurants have been popping up around Johnson County in the last few years.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
It’s also made its way into high-profile recording environments like London’s Abbey Road Studios, while popping up in projects from Kid Cudi, Diplo and Gracie Abrams.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 5 May 2026
Death Cafes are popping up in churches, coffee shops and even historic cemeteries across the country.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Max Gao, Variety, 8 May 2026
One of the major keys to popping curls is a healthy scalp, and this two-in-one cleanser and scrub keeps roots and follicles in prime condition so hair can flourish.
—Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
Schylling is also warning shoppers to steer clear of counterfeit versions popping up online amid the viral demand.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Denim sneakers have been popping up across the board from different brands over the last year, but Vans is taking its commitment to the material to another level.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
And then there’s a sprawling array of official and unofficial art happenings popping up around the lagoons and the surrounding islands.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 5 May 2026
Indian restaurants have been popping up around Johnson County in the last few years.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
It’s also made its way into high-profile recording environments like London’s Abbey Road Studios, while popping up in projects from Kid Cudi, Diplo and Gracie Abrams.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 5 May 2026
Death Cafes are popping up in churches, coffee shops and even historic cemeteries across the country.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
-
My head was exploding with the iciest cold.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
New York’s gritty downtown scene was exploding, high-camp drag queens and nightclub personalities like Kevin Aviance and Lady Bunny were becoming icons, and house and ballroom music were filtering into the mainstream.—
Kiana Mickles,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
If this were an American show, the gears would already be grinding, camera angles snapping into place, and the story would be halfway to becoming gospel before anyone had time to blink.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
7 May 2026
-
That swing propelled the Rockies to a 6-2 win over the Mets on Thursday at Coors Field, avoiding a sweep and snapping a six-game losing streak.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
On April 12, PĂ©ter Magyar of the Tisza party won by a landslide, altering the course of Hungary’s history and shattering voter turnout records.—
Alexandra Levy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Meyer still brokers earth-shattering private deals, but for the last decade, he’s been sorting through Si’s deep collection.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Also, the Spurs are due for shooting regression from deep, whereas the Blazers have gotten unlucky from 3-point range.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Cade Cunningham is shooting under 43% from the field and has a whopping 27 turnovers through four games.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two Massachusetts men have pleaded guilty to breaking into Harvard Medical School and detonating fireworks last Halloween night, a crime that caught the eye of FBI Director Kash Patel.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And some advanced mines have counters that will let a certain number of ships pass before detonating.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The righty then made a quiet case for cracking the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen this spring.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
Tesla is recalling 173 Cybertrucks because cracking in the rotor could cause the wheel stud to separate from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Surveillance video captured the assault, which showed the victim being repeatedly struck in the head with a hammer after confronting the suspect for smashing her car window.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
My hand was in a lot of pain from smashing the cane everywhere.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Brown declared, pulling a handle that started drilling the first hole of soil tests for a subway that planners estimated could be built in just three years.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
For producers, prices were high enough to turn a profit but not high enough to justify sending a bunch of drilling rigs out to boost production.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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