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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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
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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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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
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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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rap
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Now, just as quickly and seemingly out of the blue, another rap song has snuck an earworm into the zeitgeist.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
People are coming to see the musicians, not anybody rapping or singing or anything like that.
—Donald Fountain, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
The studio’s been a regular platform for artist appearances big and small, going back to 2013 breakout Spring Breakers, which featured both pop star actress Selena Gomez in a leading role, as well as Atlanta rap royalty Gucci Mane in his first and only feature film role to date.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Now, just as quickly and seemingly out of the blue, another rap song has snuck an earworm into the zeitgeist.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Patterson, who raps under the stage name Keef68x, is set to have a preliminary hearing in March.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
People are coming to see the musicians, not anybody rapping or singing or anything like that.
—Donald Fountain, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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