slap 1 of 2

verb

ˈslap How to pronounce slap (audio)
Definition of slapnext
1
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner she was so mad that she wanted to slap him right across the face

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in tired of jokes that slap people of faith

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slap

2 of 2

noun

1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument doctors used to give newborns a light slap to get them to start breathing

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings that comment is a slap to anyone who has ever served in the military

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slap
Verb
Drake Baldwin led off for the Braves in Tuesday’s game and saw six straight fastballs from Glasnow before slapping a slider into right field for a single. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Canada notably slapped a 50% tariff on American steel and aluminum, doubling the current rate. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Getting caught circumventing the salary cap isn't some slap-on-the-wrist offense. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 In 2025, Wanda Sykes, who co-hosted the 2022 Oscars with Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, told Variety that Smith had apologized to her personally for disrupting the show with the slap. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap
  1. smack
  2. insult
  3. blow
  4. sarcasm
  5. hit
  6. offend
  7. thump
  8. punch
Verb
  • Brady House smacked a three-run homer, Jackson Kent pitched seven innings of one-run ball to earn his first major league win and the Washington Nationals beat the visiting Miami Marlins 9-2 on Friday.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The directorial debut of cinematographer Mi Steinbach, Strange Neighbors was shot over three years on Schwarztonnensand, an island and nature preserve on the German Elbe river, smack in the middle of one of Europe’s busiest waterways.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of smack
Verb
  • Platner also apologized for old online comments that included insulting language about women, police and rural residents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Junior Engineers None of this is free, and pretending otherwise would insult the people who have to sign the budgets.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • The decline of the wholesale channel overall has been a blow to the industry’s morale and its balance sheets and forced many brands to put a greater emphasis on direct-to-consumer sales.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Strength among women helped Friday’s overall nonfarm payrolls figure blow past expectations for August.
    — Alex Harring,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • As Troy, his signature wide-eyed, guileless delivery of sarcasm is a first line of defense that softens as his understanding of the Russian people, including his companion, grows.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The other presidents had some semblance of comedic appreciation, whether through cynicism, irony, sarcasm, joke-telling, joke appreciation or storytelling.
    — John Blumenthal, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of sarcasm
Verb
  • If the Sabres can find some more success with the man advantage, Thompson shouldn’t have much trouble hitting the 40-goal mark again.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Japan's 10-year government bond yield recently breached 3%, hitting a high not seen in roughly 30 years.
    — , CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • Goebel later emphasized that the maze was not meant to endorse everything Kirk said or did, nor dismiss concerns from people offended by some of his remarks.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Here’s what to bring, when to show up and how to ask for a better price without offending the person who grew your dinner.
    — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of offend
Noun
  • If those ground tests show the jet’s acoustic thump is soft enough for suburban skies, NASA plans to fly the X-59 over several US communities to gather public feedback.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Their pitching is good, Griffin Jax could return soon, and Liam Hicks has added some thump to a lineup previously built around three really good hitters (Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda) and a bunch of do-your-job role players.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • The detainee said Seenaraine punched Rodriguez in the face after guards moved him to another part of the detention center.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • DuBose questions the allegation that Fields’ sucker-punched his teammate.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of punch

Phrases Containing slap

Browse Nearby Words

slanty
slap
slapdash
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stigma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All