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
Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
For game three of the Chiefs' season, Brittany showed up in style wearing an all-white outfit with pops of red for a more subtle look in support of the Chiefs.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Mix bitter lettuce varieties like radicchio and endive with tender greens, add something substantial like lentils or roasted sweet potatoes, and finish with bright pops of pomegranate or dried cranberries.
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Oct. 2025
Spanning an entire city block on René-Lévesque Boulevard, this 950-room grande dame nods to the 1960s with pops of bold color, geometric light fixtures, graphic rugs, and Eero Aarnio–style ball chairs.
—Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
If donning the jacket leather side up, pops of sherpa fuzziness will still be yours to enjoy, as the coat’s patch pockets are artfully topped by the material.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
For the blockbuster’s trio of potential pops, one of the most gratifying things has been hearing the personal stories of fans at the stage door.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
As long as the rest of the film pops, too.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
The intermittent pops of muzzle fire are drowned out as tank treads grind the asphalt down Washington Street toward the East River waterfront, where a 100-year-old carousel lays in ruin.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
These pants serve as a fun addition to fall outfits, as the print pops in a sea of blue jeans.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
The question of the club’s name pops up from time to time, including just last year among the 11,000 members of the Max’s Kansas City Facebook group.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach is built to tackle tumbleweeds of fur and mystery crumbs with surprising grace—thanks to a tangle-preventing brush roll and a wand that pops free for those hard-to-reach corners (or the perpetual dust colony behind your sofa).
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025
Brooklyn also pops up fleetingly in a flashback with his brother Romeo at the aforementioned Spice Girls show.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
This best-selling side table pops up to double as a hidden cooler.
—Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
The warnings of exuberance may be mounting, but how the bubble pops is a question that has gone unanswered.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
In the middle of a transaction, up pops a box in the middle of a full page showing the company's logo.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
The whole room smelled like old furniture and melted ice pops.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
For game three of the Chiefs' season, Brittany showed up in style wearing an all-white outfit with pops of red for a more subtle look in support of the Chiefs.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Mix bitter lettuce varieties like radicchio and endive with tender greens, add something substantial like lentils or roasted sweet potatoes, and finish with bright pops of pomegranate or dried cranberries.
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Oct. 2025
Spanning an entire city block on René-Lévesque Boulevard, this 950-room grande dame nods to the 1960s with pops of bold color, geometric light fixtures, graphic rugs, and Eero Aarnio–style ball chairs.
—Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
If donning the jacket leather side up, pops of sherpa fuzziness will still be yours to enjoy, as the coat’s patch pockets are artfully topped by the material.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
For the blockbuster’s trio of potential pops, one of the most gratifying things has been hearing the personal stories of fans at the stage door.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
As long as the rest of the film pops, too.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
The intermittent pops of muzzle fire are drowned out as tank treads grind the asphalt down Washington Street toward the East River waterfront, where a 100-year-old carousel lays in ruin.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
These pants serve as a fun addition to fall outfits, as the print pops in a sea of blue jeans.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
The question of the club’s name pops up from time to time, including just last year among the 11,000 members of the Max’s Kansas City Facebook group.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Reach is built to tackle tumbleweeds of fur and mystery crumbs with surprising grace—thanks to a tangle-preventing brush roll and a wand that pops free for those hard-to-reach corners (or the perpetual dust colony behind your sofa).
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025
Brooklyn also pops up fleetingly in a flashback with his brother Romeo at the aforementioned Spice Girls show.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
This best-selling side table pops up to double as a hidden cooler.
—Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
The warnings of exuberance may be mounting, but how the bubble pops is a question that has gone unanswered.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
In the middle of a transaction, up pops a box in the middle of a full page showing the company's logo.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pops
Verb
-
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
-
When Whitney accuses her of lying to cover up her misdoings, everything explodes.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Robinson played 19 defensive snaps and 18 special teams snaps in his NFL debut.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a small town like Harding, a crime involving local children of local families shatters the relatively placid and usually numb routines of daily life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Continue reading … HEAT HISTORY – Padres flamethrower shatters MLB record with jaw-dropping pitch in playoff battle.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rollins rarely shoots when dribbling around a screen.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Olim, who shoots and wounds Severin, spends some time trying to figure out the thief’s motivation.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 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
-
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
-
Parsons attended Cowboys practices during training camp but has not participated in any team drills.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
I'mPhaedra Trethan, debating whether put the heat on at my house as the season's first Nor'easter blows into Jersey.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pops. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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