Synonyms of popping

popping

verb

present participle of pop

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

• exploding
• detonating
• blowing
• bursting
• crumping
• going off
• smashing
• blowing up
• shattering
• firing
• splintering
• fragmenting
• mushrooming
• discharging
• burgeoning
• shooting
• ballooning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• imploding
• collapsing
• fizzling

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

• snapping
• cracking
• exploding
• bursting
• crackling
• splitting
• shattering
• clicking
• hissing
• clattering
• sputtering
• rending
• sizzling
• riving
• clacking

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

• shattering
• smashing
• demolishing
• blowing
• bursting
• exploding
• destroying
• blasting
• detonating
• blowing up
• wrecking
• ruining
• decimating
• dynamiting
• annihilating
• splintering
• discharging
• fragmenting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapsing
• imploding

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

• shooting
• drilling
• plugging
• dropping
• gunning
• killing
• destroying
• slaughtering
• slaying
• blazing
• bringing down
• peppering
• picking off
• blowing away
• firing (at)
• blasting (at)
• shooting down
• sniping (at)
• massacring
• butchering
• dispatching
• decimating
• wiping out
• shotgunning
• potshotting
• annihilating
• felling
• machine-gunning
• icing
• croaking
• blotting out
• doing in
• pistoling
• tommy-gunning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of popping

But, experts say, the projects popping up in Miami-Dade are unlike those that grab headlines for fouling drinking water and driving up power bills — for now. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

But even in a regular photograph, Horálek was able to show the incredible beauty of the glow of the Milky Way's heart above the mountain range, with every color in the rainbow popping up in the gas and dust across our galaxy. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 16 July 2026

The new constructions, which are popping up across the country to meet the demand for AI, are roiled in controversy. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Data centers are popping up across the United States as tech giants Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Amazon race to create artificial intelligence infrastructure. — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 14 July 2026

Multiple studies over a significant amount of time have repeatedly shown there is little to no risk or connection between popping knuckles and arthritis or any other long-term health problem. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Her bikinis are also popping up in the wild, with customers beginning to show them off online. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

Vigils are popping up across the country in Salgado Araujo’s name. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

So when at-home brow tints started popping up all over social media, I was immediately intrigued. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 9 July 2026