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
Relevance
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
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
There could be some relationship turmoil popping up for you now and in the weeks ahead, Gemini.
—
Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
After popping up in Batman Forever (1995), Empire Records (1995), and The Insider (1999), Mazar found a semi-permanent home as Vincent Chase’s publicist on Entourage (2004–2011).
—Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
And at that time, the Black-Eyed Peas were popping back then, Gwen Stefani, Fergie had dropped her album.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Lots of planned and gated communities, such as Riverstone, are popping up, giving families safe and modern housing options, and there are great condos and apartments in Sugar Land Town Square.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
This summer, Tesla left Delaware and incorporated in Texas, where the company’s board promptly offered Musk the new, eye-popping pay package.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Demand for electricity has increased in recent years, partly because of all of the new data centers that are popping up to serve the artificial intelligence boom.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
From searing and sautéing on the stove to popping them right in the oven for easy roasting, stainless steel pans are versatile and super durable, too.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Franken-Candy Sundae – Creamy vanilla soft serve topped with Oreo cookie crumbles, purple candy syrup, and purple and green popping candy.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 31 Oct. 2025
Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
After popping up in Batman Forever (1995), Empire Records (1995), and The Insider (1999), Mazar found a semi-permanent home as Vincent Chase’s publicist on Entourage (2004–2011).
—Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
And at that time, the Black-Eyed Peas were popping back then, Gwen Stefani, Fergie had dropped her album.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Lots of planned and gated communities, such as Riverstone, are popping up, giving families safe and modern housing options, and there are great condos and apartments in Sugar Land Town Square.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
This summer, Tesla left Delaware and incorporated in Texas, where the company’s board promptly offered Musk the new, eye-popping pay package.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Demand for electricity has increased in recent years, partly because of all of the new data centers that are popping up to serve the artificial intelligence boom.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
From searing and sautéing on the stove to popping them right in the oven for easy roasting, stainless steel pans are versatile and super durable, too.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Franken-Candy Sundae – Creamy vanilla soft serve topped with Oreo cookie crumbles, purple candy syrup, and purple and green popping candy.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
-
The overlapping relationships between the three, heightened by external narratives in the press and online, fester in isolation, eventually exploding into tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Yoo thinks the company lost momentum after the 2016 Galaxy Note 7 crisis, when exploding batteries forced a massive recall.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Plus, there’s no need to call a handyman to set up your new furniture, as assembly is as simple as snapping the metal base onto the seat.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Of those who have announced, former Congresswoman Katie Porter had an early lead in polling, although under 20% support, but she was heavily damaged when videos surfaced of her harsh reaction to a reporter’s question and snapping at one of her staffers.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Yet for all of Malinin’s athleticism and his Beamonesque ability to take flight what has been most telling in what has already been a world record-shattering Olympic season has been the maturity of his skating, the willingness to take emotional risks in his programs.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anger over shooting video Others pointed to the video of the shooting as a source of outrage.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Michael David McKee was arrested on Saturday, accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife and her dentist husband at their home in Columbus, Ohio, in late December.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Two Massachusetts men arrested in connection with an explosion Saturday at Harvard University are accused of detonating a firework inside a laboratory locker in a medical building, federal authorities said Tuesday.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Poseidon had been described as a doomsday weapon that is designed to create a massive radioactive tsunami by detonating near coastal targets.—
Abhishek Bhardwaj,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Police struggle to maintain order, their wooden sticks cracking against the pavement in a futile attempt to control the sheer mass of people.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
He's also seen 113 songs hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 15 of them cracking the top 10.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The man accused of smashing windows on Vice President JD Vance's home with a hammer is facing separate prosecutions in state and federal court.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dëmin finally stopped the bleeding out of the huddle, drilling a left-corner 3 to give Brooklyn a pulse, but the climb was steep from there.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Energy experts say this trend shows how sharply the US and China are diverging on the energy transition, with China sprinting far ahead on renewables and EVs, while the US doubles down on drilling oil at home and abroad.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share