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
OpenClaw conferences are popping up around the world.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
The offices and high-rises that are popping up and bringing in a younger clientele weren’t yet there to block out the sun.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord stopped Joel Eriksson Ek’s initial shot, with the rebound popping up and hitting Boldy in the chest, before deflecting off his stick and into the net.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
A-list talent are still commanding eye-popping paydays.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
With hundreds of new products flooding the halls of Fiera Milano and installations popping up across the city, even all six days are barely enough for the time needed to cover it all.
—Jesse Dorris, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
Stone further distinguished her look by popping her collar.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
So far, the singer has delivered eye-popping performances for Tropicoqueta that focus on the record’s sensuality and hora loca vibes.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Discover Halotherapy Salt rooms—low-light spaces lined in salt—are popping up in cities and small towns, offering dry-air sessions said to support respiration and promote calm.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 7 Apr. 2026
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
The offices and high-rises that are popping up and bringing in a younger clientele weren’t yet there to block out the sun.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord stopped Joel Eriksson Ek’s initial shot, with the rebound popping up and hitting Boldy in the chest, before deflecting off his stick and into the net.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
A-list talent are still commanding eye-popping paydays.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
With hundreds of new products flooding the halls of Fiera Milano and installations popping up across the city, even all six days are barely enough for the time needed to cover it all.
—Jesse Dorris, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
Stone further distinguished her look by popping her collar.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
So far, the singer has delivered eye-popping performances for Tropicoqueta that focus on the record’s sensuality and hora loca vibes.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Discover Halotherapy Salt rooms—low-light spaces lined in salt—are popping up in cities and small towns, offering dry-air sessions said to support respiration and promote calm.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
-
Ponson had heard the lore of fast-developing storms in the northern Gulf — systems that escaped the notice of meteorologists — before exploding into near-gale winds, towering waves and rare but deadly storms.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But Explosive News’ videos might be the world’s most potent example of slopaganda yet, changing hearts and minds—or at least generating lots of clicks—one exploding toy battleship at a time.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Out of contact with Earth, the crew continued snapping pictures and shared a batch of maple cookies supplied by Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the first person not from the United States to ever travel to deep space.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The pull and release of awareness is like an elastic band snapping against my skin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But customers should not expect earth-shattering menu changes.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With large hailstones capable of shattering windshields and denting vehicles, meteorologists are urging residents to move cars into garages, covered parking areas or sheltered spots.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Adebayo finished Tuesday’s loss with just seven points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field, 1-of-7 shooting on threes and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line, nine rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
He is accused of shooting Afghan man Dad Mohammad three times in the head in an Uruzgan province wheat field in 2012.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Named after the infamous Japanese suicide pilots of World War II, these kinds of drones can actively hunt for targets, track them, and then ram into them, detonating their explosive payloads.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
To kick-start the program, Teller wanted to create an instant harbor by burying, and then detonating, five thermonuclear bombs in an Indigenous village in coastal northwestern Alaska.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Okay, well, can someone get cracking on this?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When a piano tuner’s extraordinary hearing reveals a knack for cracking safes, his quiet New York routine gives way to a risky life of crime—just as the possibility of love suggests another future.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maces, which were little more than rocks mounted on sticks, had questionable value as hunting tools, but they were superbly suited for smashing the bones and skulls of other humans.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Charging forward, Tuanzebe met the ball as its arc fell just in front of the goal, smashing it for a 1-0 lead.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But drilling new wells takes time.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Sura said this grant and the pending work to be done is a victory for residents in Fort Collins and Larimer County, improving health and environment while also potentially returning some land back to generational owners who previously had to leave the property to drilling.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
