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
Demolition derbies bring the sounds of revving engines and metal crashing into metal to rural arenas all over Arkansas, especially during this time of year when county fairs are popping up.
—
Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
Travel and socializing with friends, neighbors, and siblings could also be popping up for you quite soon.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
The couple have been making the rounds during NYFW, sitting front row at Off-White earlier in the day, and Carthen popping up at Theophilio the night prior.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Zach Bryan was a surprise guest at this weekend’s Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, popping up on Saturday to sing with Gabriella Rose during her afternoon set.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
So what’s on your vision board for popping the question?
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
And even before the actors arrive on the stage, we’ve been treated to an eye-popping visual display.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025
Goldman Sachs has calculated that a bubble popping could wipe out up to 20% of the S&P 500’s valuation.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Thomas dove in and swam with Malibu, popping up simultaneously from the water and resting their extremities — his arms, her fins — on the edge of the pool.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
Travel and socializing with friends, neighbors, and siblings could also be popping up for you quite soon.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
The couple have been making the rounds during NYFW, sitting front row at Off-White earlier in the day, and Carthen popping up at Theophilio the night prior.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Zach Bryan was a surprise guest at this weekend’s Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, popping up on Saturday to sing with Gabriella Rose during her afternoon set.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
So what’s on your vision board for popping the question?
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
And even before the actors arrive on the stage, we’ve been treated to an eye-popping visual display.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025
Goldman Sachs has calculated that a bubble popping could wipe out up to 20% of the S&P 500’s valuation.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Thomas dove in and swam with Malibu, popping up simultaneously from the water and resting their extremities — his arms, her fins — on the edge of the pool.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for popping
Verb
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At the same time, lawmakers had capped the agency’s administrative funding just as tens of millions of Baby Boomers were aging into retirement, exploding Social Security’s rolls.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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This upgrade requires packs to withstand thermal runaway without igniting or exploding.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lines of hundreds of guests snaked around the inside of the department store (which takes up an entire city block in Manhattan), with onlookers snapping photos quizzically.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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Back at home, Hauser’s father took a picture off the TV screen with his son snapping away on the sideline.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite the ongoing discourse of economic slowdown, tariff threats and interest rate concerns, the richest Americans are shattering wealth records.—
Forbes Press Releases,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The result is nonetheless shattering, for the characters and the audience.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The killing triggered widespread political turmoil, outrage, and a manhunt, resulting in the arrest of shooting suspect Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Speaking of performance what was the experience of shooting Song Sung Blue with Hugh Jackman like?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Russia will test a new laser system designed to take out mines without detonating the explosive devices, state media reported on Thursday.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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Livingston is angry at Shagan for detonating the bomb without his order, but nevertheless takes advantage of the confusion over Abigail's fate to remove her from power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Incidentally, one of the reasons why the insurance category as a whole tends to go all-in on cracking wise is that there’s little room for the companies to provide specific guidance about their policies.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
His voice is exuberant, especially when cracking jokes.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Shoplifting became a political lighting rod, and videos of thieves smashing store windows and grabbing merchandise rocketed across the news and social media as a symbol of a breakdown across cities.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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While Bills Mafia holds dear traditions like smashing into tables and dousing a superfan in condiments before games, the group also developed a philanthropic bent.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The company has yet to disclose financial details of the projects, and so far has requested drilling on small footprints totaling 280 acres.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
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Their tasks frequently involve manual tools -cutting debris, drilling through rubble, or lifting objects, etc.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Popping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popping. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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