1
as in banging
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in drumming
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in transporting
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in grabbing
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 rapping
Fab 5 Freddy, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
Sustaining the legacy Swayvo Twain started rapping during his junior year at Stockbridge High School.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Born in 2000, Janarious Mykel Wheeler began rapping at 7 years old.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 18 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny stood in the tall grass below, holding a Puerto Rican independence movement flag, before climbing an empty pole to a narrow platform, rapping all the while.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Fresh off last week’s historic Album of the Year Grammy win, Spanish-rapping Bad Bunny brought his singular stamp of joy to Levi’s Stadium during Super Bowl LX, starting in a sugar cane field, in what many termed a cultural game changer.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 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
Last season, despite rapping out more hits than any other National League player, Arraez’s OPS+ graded out as 99.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
However, Badu re-recorded the chorus for the take included on The Roots’ 1999 studio album Things Fall Apart, which also features Eve rapping the second verse.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
The video was the first time millions of people saw someone rapping on-screen.
—Fab 5 Freddy, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
Sustaining the legacy Swayvo Twain started rapping during his junior year at Stockbridge High School.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Born in 2000, Janarious Mykel Wheeler began rapping at 7 years old.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 18 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny stood in the tall grass below, holding a Puerto Rican independence movement flag, before climbing an empty pole to a narrow platform, rapping all the while.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Fresh off last week’s historic Album of the Year Grammy win, Spanish-rapping Bad Bunny brought his singular stamp of joy to Levi’s Stadium during Super Bowl LX, starting in a sugar cane field, in what many termed a cultural game changer.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 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
Last season, despite rapping out more hits than any other National League player, Arraez’s OPS+ graded out as 99.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
However, Badu re-recorded the chorus for the take included on The Roots’ 1999 studio album Things Fall Apart, which also features Eve rapping the second verse.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapping. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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