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
Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
Scott has signed an amicus brief addressed to the Supreme Court stating that James Broadnax had his First Amendment rights violated when Broadnax's rap lyrics were introduced as evidence in his sentencing for a pair of 2008 murders.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Fab 5 Freddy, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
Swayvo started rapping during his junior year at Stockbridge High School.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
Roots Picnic moving to Belmont Plateau The festival is scheduled for May 30 and 31 and, for the first time, will be held at Belmont Plateau, Philly rap group The Roots announced Friday on social media.
—Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
Scott has signed an amicus brief addressed to the Supreme Court stating that James Broadnax had his First Amendment rights violated when Broadnax's rap lyrics were introduced as evidence in his sentencing for a pair of 2008 murders.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Something that tied it all together—from whole-train murals to rap parties to B-boys.
—Fab 5 Freddy, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
Swayvo started rapping during his junior year at Stockbridge High School.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 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 19 Mar. 2026.
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