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
Jaia Clingham-David, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Apr. 2026
Who knows what will happen if the AI bubble pops and the frictionless and ubiquitous access to LLMs withers into something much more limited.
—ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
With pops of lemon and cinnamon in the filling, this pie is literally bursting with flavor to enjoy this summer.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Filming is set to start shortly after the cast pops into PaleyFest in Los Angeles this Friday.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Credit goes to the pops of hot pink and dark navy patent leather, and hot yellow suede accents — set against a navy and pink psychedelic print.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The room designs are sleek and modern, warmed with a few random pops of color sourced from local Brooklyn artists.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026
These estimates seem a bit generous, but the glasses lasted at least a day between pops into the case.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Gigi Hadid sports several pops of color for her day in New York City on April 3.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
His pocket awareness still needs work, though, and the occasional scattershot stretch pops up from time to time.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
If the bubble pops, economic catastrophe may follow.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
When the right arm pops, the Rams can’t afford to pass him up.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Marcello Hernández’s Domingo character pops in for a second before Jack White comes in and cartoon-style boinks his head with a pan.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2026
There’s a sturdiness to his game that pops right away, and that usually gets teams’ attention.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Alongside him is Glenn Martens, Margiela’s creative director, who pops up during a momentary lull in the action downstairs.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
Due to its chewier bite, most chefs slice it thinly and add crunchy fruits or vegetables and pops of acid.
—Jaia Clingham-David, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Apr. 2026
Who knows what will happen if the AI bubble pops and the frictionless and ubiquitous access to LLMs withers into something much more limited.
—ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
With pops of lemon and cinnamon in the filling, this pie is literally bursting with flavor to enjoy this summer.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Filming is set to start shortly after the cast pops into PaleyFest in Los Angeles this Friday.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Credit goes to the pops of hot pink and dark navy patent leather, and hot yellow suede accents — set against a navy and pink psychedelic print.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The room designs are sleek and modern, warmed with a few random pops of color sourced from local Brooklyn artists.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026
These estimates seem a bit generous, but the glasses lasted at least a day between pops into the case.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Gigi Hadid sports several pops of color for her day in New York City on April 3.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
When the city clears one encampment, another pops up, often nearby.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
His pocket awareness still needs work, though, and the occasional scattershot stretch pops up from time to time.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
If the bubble pops, economic catastrophe may follow.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
When the right arm pops, the Rams can’t afford to pass him up.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Marcello Hernández’s Domingo character pops in for a second before Jack White comes in and cartoon-style boinks his head with a pan.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2026
There’s a sturdiness to his game that pops right away, and that usually gets teams’ attention.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Alongside him is Glenn Martens, Margiela’s creative director, who pops up during a momentary lull in the action downstairs.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pops
Verb
-
Vann instantly explodes, then runs off into the distance, making it across the street before collapsing to the ground where a resident tried to help him with damp towels.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That meticulousness snaps into crystal-clear focus when Cronin talks about process.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In the adorable family snaps, Khloé, who shares her children with ex Tristan Thompson, included several selfies, solo shots and group pictures of the Kardashian's cousin crew.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Related Stories The film shatters stereotypical visuals of space, veering away from cold and desaturated colors, and using warmer tones such as orange.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His refusal to take the curse seriously shatters her trust, leaving her questioning their entire relationship.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Willett shoots a closing 67 for a 5-under 283 is assured his first major title when Spieth bogies the 17th hole.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Turning up the music in get car so that her daughter won’t hear, the grandmother gets out the car, takes a revolver out of her bag, and wincing and turning away, shoots the animal in the head.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
But Wark smashes a ball to left field for the Aggies to retake the lead, 7-5.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Delivery robot smashes into glass of bus shelter in Old Town on Tuesday afternoon.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Skeleton drills with rags hanging from their shorts.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Those chemicals, salts and metals have concentrated over time in the lake bed sediments, and they get stirred up into the air when the wind blows through.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
As the wind blows between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, the velocity increases and carries the sand grains from the sandstone.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pops. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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