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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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of pops
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Gathered around the couch, in a spacious living room soundtracked by hushed jazz piano, her little sister disassociates with headphones while her pops casually chats to her stepmother; observing from a wheelchair is her 94-year-old great-grandmother.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2025
The shutdown ground to a near-halt an IPO market that was just getting going, with Figma, Netskope, and Chime all seeing big pops.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Other rooms in the house boast bold pops of print and color, too.
—Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Xylitol, a sweetener often used as a sugar substitute in these pops, reduces the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Slow leaks and unexpected pops have been reported.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
The new Parkside Market Coffee & Tea menu is very similar to Sip & Sonder with a selection of specialty coffees, cold brews, iced lattes, kombuchas, cinnamon rolls and cake pops, according to WDW News Today.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
My pops wasn’t with none of that.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The unknown male then points the gun, and an image of Trump wearing a crown with red crosshairs on his forehead pops up.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
That means companies planning on filing permits for new products, which must be approved by the TTB before the bottling process begins and the spirit pops onto the market, may run into a few headaches, The Spirits Business reported.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
But where Patel and the prosecutors promise a lion, out pops a mouse.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2025
There in the dark, a poem by my grandmother pops into my head.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The player must complete the dare inside when a balloon pops or claim their treat.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
The display pops outdoors, the camera produces crisp, colorful photos, and Galaxy AI features like quick summaries and cross-app actions make life smoother.
—PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
Thomas enjoys playing with Alix As Alix’s youngest sibling, Thomas pops up on her TikTok from time to time when the family gets together.
—Mckinley Franklin, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
Even if a bubble pops, there will be winners—each company would like to be the first to build a superintelligent machine.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Gathered around the couch, in a spacious living room soundtracked by hushed jazz piano, her little sister disassociates with headphones while her pops casually chats to her stepmother; observing from a wheelchair is her 94-year-old great-grandmother.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2025
The shutdown ground to a near-halt an IPO market that was just getting going, with Figma, Netskope, and Chime all seeing big pops.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Other rooms in the house boast bold pops of print and color, too.
—Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Xylitol, a sweetener often used as a sugar substitute in these pops, reduces the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Slow leaks and unexpected pops have been reported.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
The new Parkside Market Coffee & Tea menu is very similar to Sip & Sonder with a selection of specialty coffees, cold brews, iced lattes, kombuchas, cinnamon rolls and cake pops, according to WDW News Today.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
My pops wasn’t with none of that.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Despite her better judgment, Sarah pops the tape into the VCR, and we’re introduced to a triptych of stories featuring Art the Clown.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The unknown male then points the gun, and an image of Trump wearing a crown with red crosshairs on his forehead pops up.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
That means companies planning on filing permits for new products, which must be approved by the TTB before the bottling process begins and the spirit pops onto the market, may run into a few headaches, The Spirits Business reported.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
But where Patel and the prosecutors promise a lion, out pops a mouse.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2025
There in the dark, a poem by my grandmother pops into my head.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The player must complete the dare inside when a balloon pops or claim their treat.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
The display pops outdoors, the camera produces crisp, colorful photos, and Galaxy AI features like quick summaries and cross-app actions make life smoother.
—PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
Thomas enjoys playing with Alix As Alix’s youngest sibling, Thomas pops up on her TikTok from time to time when the family gets together.
—Mckinley Franklin, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pops
Verb
-
After Paul causes a boating accident that kills a young woman, the family explodes.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The post also included a video showing aerial footage of a fast-moving boat at sea that suddenly explodes.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Siran Neal has two tackles in 135 special-teams snaps.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
In the season’s fourth episode, Russell's character snaps at her secret service agent, who is meant to be her double and look like her, due to her very disheveled hair.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The latest expression that shatters the 140-proof mark comes from Louisville blender Barrell Craft Spirits, and this is one blend of whiskeys finished in Caribbean rum barrels that should be on any whiskey masochist’s bottle list.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Her decision to walk away seems like an act of autonomy — until the final sequence shatters any illusion of closure.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An elderly man sits on the floor, dozens of bodies lying around him, before a Sudanese rebel fighter approaches and shoots him.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The curve shoots upward like a fever.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Brother Dusk detonates explosives that shatter the cryonic chamber of Cleon clones, bodies raining down in blood and glass, before plucking a single embryo from the wreckage to bait Demerzel’s deepest programming.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Determined to finish the job, Dante detonates explosives on the dam itself.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As Richard tries to kill Carrie, Sigrid shoots him in the shoulder and Lo smashes him in the face with a piece of boating equipment.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The state also limited preseason contact drills to six hours total and banned spring and summer practices.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
-
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Coastal communities in southwest Jamaica took the most punishing blows from the storm, with catastrophic flooding and wind damage.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In the update, Cumberbatch and Colman play a seemingly perfect husband and wife with the perfect family, but underneath the façade is a powder keg of resentment and fierce competition that eventually blows.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pops. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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