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
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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
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3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
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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
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as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
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1
as in to smack
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rap
Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
This is kind of where the parasocial, street-fetishizing rap internet has been headed since the days of Chicago drill beef pages on YouTube, and Thug is leaning into it by actually doing this big interview.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Sep. 2025
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
McKinnon, who raps under the name NBATAE, even received a call from NBA YoungBoy himself, who complimented him on his rap name while giving him words of encouragement and support.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
Though the movie is accessible to new fans, there are plenty of winks and nods for diehards who can understand what might seem, to the uninitiated, like cheesy moments—a cringeworthy English rap verse, a scene parodying the product placement in K-dramas—as self-aware jokes.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
This is kind of where the parasocial, street-fetishizing rap internet has been headed since the days of Chicago drill beef pages on YouTube, and Thug is leaning into it by actually doing this big interview.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
That’s until their cover in California Schemin’ as rapping imposters was blown and the emotional strain of denying their Scottishness and their fractured friendship revealed itself.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
McKinnon, who raps under the name NBATAE, even received a call from NBA YoungBoy himself, who complimented him on his rap name while giving him words of encouragement and support.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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