1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
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2
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
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as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in to entrance
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rap
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Born Lauro De Marinis in Verona, Italy, in 1990, the pop star grew up in Rome and first emerged from the city’s underground rap scene in the early 2010s.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
North wore a long blue wig, black sunglasses and a black leather outfit, dancing around and rapping while on stage.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
The first includes not only R&B music but also hip-hop and rap, while the latter is focused entirely on the one genre.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Born Lauro De Marinis in Verona, Italy, in 1990, the pop star grew up in Rome and first emerged from the city’s underground rap scene in the early 2010s.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Verb
Bergstrom accepted the challenge and promptly beat the older male recruiter, rapping out 18 pull-ups while the recruiter could muster only 15.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
North wore a long blue wig, black sunglasses and a black leather outfit, dancing around and rapping while on stage.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rap
Noun
-
The motion also cites whistleblower accounts that accused top Justice Department officials of rushing forward with an indictment despite internal concerns about the merits of the case and the strength of the evidence.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
Clearly, the indictment showed that art can and forever will be a forceful weapon when wielded properly.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump has effectively imposed a fuel blockade on the island by threatening tariffs on countries supplying it with fuel, igniting seemingly endless power outages and delivering new blows to the island's already ailing economy.—
Phil Stewart,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
But in 2024, voters in a number of states rejected ballot measures that would have created nonpartisan primary systems, in a significant blow to reform movements.—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Your practical eye helps people collaborate without blame.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2026
-
As the Blue Jays struggle to recapture their World Series momentum from last season, there is plenty of blame to go around.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
But the nature of the chat will be greatly determined by how well or how poorly the devised AI persona was shaped.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The mere mention of the vaginal microbiome outside of the gyno’s office or group chats was once off limits.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
In a world of drivers mostly ruled by their corporate sponsors, Busch was an otherworldly talent who simply did not give a damn.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
-
In comedy, no one gives a damn.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The Rockies’ Kyle Karros hit an opposite-field line drive that carried to the right-field warning track, but Lee tracked down the potential extra-base hit on the run, then crashed into the chain-link portion of the fence.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
-
The hitting coaches have been really emphasizing it.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The characters discuss Rudy Giuliani’s controversial stop-and-frisk police policies, and Knuck is part of a sidewalk bucket drumming group.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
The culture behind Taiko drumming The folk instrument is used for many purposes in Japanese culture.—
Mary Eber,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Yousef Miller, a member of the North County Equity and Justice Coalition, was out on Buchanan Street on Monday, talking with people who pulled over to ask what had happened to Sheron.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
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On Morrison For the launch of Ohio’s year-long, state-wide celebration of Toni Morrison, Namwali Serpell flies to Columbus to talk with poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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