POPS Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

pops 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of pop

as in claps

a loud explosive sound the soda can opened with a sharp pop

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pops

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of pop

as in dads

a male human parent ask your pop if he knows where the keys to the shed are

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pops

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of pop

as in explodes

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in snaps

to break suddenly with an explosive sound the last strand popped, causing the chandelier to drop to the floor with a great crash

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as in shatters

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive popping popcorn over a campfire

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 pops

Noun

Spacious and flooded with natural light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, the rooms lean into a soothing palette of cool grays, warm wood accents, and pops of yellow. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026 Plus, introducing pops of contrasting color throughout the space makes everything feel more cohesive and less random. — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2026 The apple pieces cook up nice and tender without becoming mushy, adding bright and tart pops of fresh fruit flavor throughout the scone. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026 The color combinations range from non-boring neutrals to soft pops of color, but the dusty blue and brown make for an especially sweet pairing. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Sep. 2026 Cherry-Cream Swirl Pops These creamy pops evoke the flavors of cherries jubilee—a classic dessert of warm, boozy fruit spooned over ice cream. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 10 Sep. 2026 McCollough and Hernandez’s collection took accents from von Bonin’s work such as the exaggeration of size and the pops of color that feature in her work, which also often features plush animals. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Ranging in color from red to pink and orange, planting them in fall can offer your backyard garden beds bright pops of color. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 5 Sep. 2026 The glossy patent leather gives the sandals an elevated look, while the silver-tone hardware on the oversized buckle pops against the rich purple strap. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

Harrison, who’s clutching a Sapporo, grabs his friend’s drink and neatly pops the top off using his own bottle. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 If a neighbor mix‑up pops up, write a short summary with next steps so everyone feels aligned. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026 Cheers when the bar pops another bottle of Champagne become a regular occurrence. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026 There’s animosity between the programs that dates back to Iowa declining to schedule Iowa State from 1935 until 1977, and every few years something pops up that gets under one another’s skin. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 When their family's love curse pops up again, the siblings work with their aunts (Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest) and Sally's kids (Joey King and Maisie Williams) to break it once and for all. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 The temporary motorhome village pops up in a parking lot around EverBank Stadium, and fans tailgate nearly the entire week leading up to the big rivalry game. — Megan Dubois, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026 The scene direction and pacing also impressed me, with none of that awkward dead air that pops up all too often in gacha games. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026 Max Carroll pops the runner, forces the fumble and recovers it. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pops

Noun

The entire gymnasium roared with claps and cheers, the loudest and most fervent applause of the evening.

— Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
The Golf Channel would always be playing in the background; the soft claps were the soundtrack to our slow Saturdays.

— Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of claps

Verb

Directed by Venice prize-winner John Swab, Copperhead‘s plot is thrust into motion when an undercover drug deal explodes into violence.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
That explodes into action in one startlingly seedy scene involving a rape in full view of revelers at a hotel party.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of explodes

Verb

After the cannon booms shatters these boxes, the ensemble tumbles together in a finale worthy of Tchaikovsky.

— Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Diesel shatters all-time records Diesel, a crucial fuel that powers trucks, trains, tractors and boats, has never been more expensive than today.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shatters

Verb

Steinbach shoots other aspects of nature as well, displaying a particular fondness for the images of plants and trees reflected in shimmering bodies of water.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
It’s called the Golden Spurs Award — given annually to the Campbell family member who shoots the turkey with the biggest spurs.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of shoots

Noun

Prompts for bangs are up 60 percent as a category, led by wispy bangs (up 260 percent) and curtain bangs (up 100 percent), alongside a rise in more dramatic cuts like bobs and pixie cuts.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Back in the Day Patrick —rocking the ultimate 2008 bangs — attended the premiere of Rambo with his dad and little brother Christopher at The Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of bangs

Noun

The relationship between Xi and Zhang went back decades, extending not just to their childhoods but all the way back to their fathers, who were comrades in arms in China’s ferocious civil war.

— Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
The victims were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and coworkers.

— Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2026