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
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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
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as in chatting
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 transporting
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 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
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Zimmerman recently collaborated with BigXthaPlug, who has shifted away from only rapping into country music, and his latest full-length blends the two styles.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
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
But his favorite thing was rapping.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2025
Like, a Martian could’ve came down here talking s—t or rapping over a beat.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
The 15 hits marked the first time in two weeks the Rays reached double digits and were their most since rapping 15 on July 23 against the White Sox.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
The other was to move from rapping to singing.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
The eight-person boy band group ATEEZ delivered a three-hour blitz of singing, rapping and dancing with hypnotic swagger and heart-melting winks.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 20 June 2025
Verb
Busta also received an assist from Papoose and Joyner Lucas, all of them sharing lyrical wordplay and seamless tradeoffs as Busta swung between his trademark dichotomy of rapping to gruff bellowing.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Zimmerman recently collaborated with BigXthaPlug, who has shifted away from only rapping into country music, and his latest full-length blends the two styles.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
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
But his favorite thing was rapping.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2025
Like, a Martian could’ve came down here talking s—t or rapping over a beat.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
The 15 hits marked the first time in two weeks the Rays reached double digits and were their most since rapping 15 on July 23 against the White Sox.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
The other was to move from rapping to singing.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
The eight-person boy band group ATEEZ delivered a three-hour blitz of singing, rapping and dancing with hypnotic swagger and heart-melting winks.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapping. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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