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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Relevance
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
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2025
Just hours after the app’s launch on Tuesday, memes created using its AI video-generation technology were already spreading to other social networks—including, for example, a video of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rapping from the inside of a toilet bowl.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Prodigy, Jadakiss, Sean Price, rapping on camera and doing it well.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
In another clip, the Florida star is out of the hospital and atop a balcony rapping the lyrics once again.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The séance took place on 25 September, when the loss of Raymond must still have been an open wound, and involved the techniques of table-tilting and rapping out letters of the alphabet.
—Alice Vernon
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Sixteen years passed — an eternity by rap’s standards — as Pusha T became a successful solo artist and label executive while Malice took a hiatus from rapping to pursue his faith.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2025
Just hours after the app’s launch on Tuesday, memes created using its AI video-generation technology were already spreading to other social networks—including, for example, a video of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rapping from the inside of a toilet bowl.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Prodigy, Jadakiss, Sean Price, rapping on camera and doing it well.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
In another clip, the Florida star is out of the hospital and atop a balcony rapping the lyrics once again.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The séance took place on 25 September, when the loss of Raymond must still have been an open wound, and involved the techniques of table-tilting and rapping out letters of the alphabet.
—Alice Vernon
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Rapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapping. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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