as in claps
a loud explosive sound
the soda can opened with a sharp pop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in dads
a male human parent
ask your pop if he knows where the keys to the shed are
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in shatters
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 shoots
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.
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Recent Examples of pops
Patty Oconnor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Options range from classic black and croc-embossed styles to sumptuous suedes and pops of fresh color—cherry red, chartreuse, and powder blue, to be exact.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
The result is a soft, springy crumb with little pops of tropical brightness.
—Laura McLively, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Weaver got the biggest pops from the crowd during the pregame ceremony which, surprisingly, didn't include Tramon Mark.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The yellow pops and Nike’s designers may have, for once, restrained themselves in the design.
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Well, the lead singer Mark came while my pops came.
—Gia Peppers, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2026
With Motion Rate 240 and MEMC frame insertion, action movies stay buttery smooth, while HDR Pro with Dolby Vision ensures every highlight pops.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Long before cake pops took over the internet, pastry chef Carol Gregg invented the Baby Bite.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
That's when a man pops his head out.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
This visual rewind pops up three to four times a year.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
After a few minutes, a person working with the festival pops his head in to check the temperature.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026
Next, Leaphorn pops by the clinic looking for a gunshot victim.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The first thing that pops when watching Grove play is his effort and energy.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
Wallpaper really pops inside of units with glass doors.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Or when a Wednesdayite pops round for tea.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
Items like protein boxes, breakfast sandwiches and cake pops are regularly routed from Starbucks shelves directly to people experiencing food insecurity across the county.
—Patty Oconnor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Options range from classic black and croc-embossed styles to sumptuous suedes and pops of fresh color—cherry red, chartreuse, and powder blue, to be exact.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
The result is a soft, springy crumb with little pops of tropical brightness.
—Laura McLively, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Weaver got the biggest pops from the crowd during the pregame ceremony which, surprisingly, didn't include Tramon Mark.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The yellow pops and Nike’s designers may have, for once, restrained themselves in the design.
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Well, the lead singer Mark came while my pops came.
—Gia Peppers, VIBE.com, 6 Mar. 2026
With Motion Rate 240 and MEMC frame insertion, action movies stay buttery smooth, while HDR Pro with Dolby Vision ensures every highlight pops.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Long before cake pops took over the internet, pastry chef Carol Gregg invented the Baby Bite.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
But when her childhood friend Pinky (Amanda Oruh) pops back into her life, Lady’s dormant emotions start to come to the surface.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
That's when a man pops his head out.
—Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
This visual rewind pops up three to four times a year.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
After a few minutes, a person working with the festival pops his head in to check the temperature.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026
Next, Leaphorn pops by the clinic looking for a gunshot victim.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The first thing that pops when watching Grove play is his effort and energy.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
Wallpaper really pops inside of units with glass doors.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Or when a Wednesdayite pops round for tea.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pops
Verb
-
Birmingham reunites with Dutton in Marshals and is injured in the first episode when a bomb explodes during a protest at the Broken Rock reservation.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Mar. 2026
-
An incoming projectile explodes over the water in the bay of Haifa off of the northern Israeli coastal city on February 28, 2026.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The policeman snaps to respectful attention.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Earnhardt snaps a 55-race winless stretch that dated to 2012.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, delves into a crime that shatters a long-standing friendship among the three lead characters.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The glass shatters with a spray that shimmers in the lantern light.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sterling shoots over 40% from range.—
Tarek Fattal,
Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Brandon Hagel shoots the wrong way and Oliver Bjorkstrand just hasn’t worked.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
But once in a rare while, the frame detonates into history.—
Christopher Anderson,
Vanity Fair,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At one point, someone runs up behind the officer and smashes a snowball into the back of the cop’s head.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Flowers and debris go flying as the vehicle then smashes head-on into a tree.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wingo and Mosley are both recovering from some nagging injuries suffered during 2025 and haven’t fully participated in offseason team drills.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
-
As the First Platoon commander for Gallatin's Navy JROTC , Nathan trains and drills more than 25 junior cadets during the school day and after hours.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The final whistle blows at Miami Stadium, yet the adrenaline is still high.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Pay special attention to soil moisture when the wind blows.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pops. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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