SLAPPING Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

slapping

verb

present participle of slap

as in smacking

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

as in insulting

to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in tired of jokes that slap people of faith

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 slapping There was briefly some concern earlier this year that Chestnut wouldn’t be able to participate in the 2026 competition after he was arrested for allegedly slapping a man in an Indiana bar. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Chestnut competed in the event while serving a 180-day probation sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from drunkenly slapping a man in an Indiana bar earlier this year. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 On one side are the demonstrably sauvignon blanc-y sauvignon blancs, practically slapping you in the face with grapefruit, guava, and grass. — Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 So, the inspector held a Stop Sale party, slapping them on dumplings, two groups of sprouts, three groups of shrimp, and eggs, chicken, beef, pork, noodles, cabbage, pasta and ham. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 Prioritize Guest Comfort A stunning backyard doesn’t mean much if guests are shivering or slapping mosquitoes away all night. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026 Prosecutors dropped all charges against a bouncer for allegedly slapping a bar patron in February. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 Viral video shows Kolek, beer in hand and slapping high fives with fans, being redirected behind a barricade before being allowed to pass. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 There’s the slapping thing; people will slap the ingredient on the cutting board. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapping

Verb

The first mode is a more simple impact detonation — simply put, smacking the asteroid's surface to create a shallow crater, in which a nuclear device is exploded.

— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Gill saved the first shot in the penalty shootout against Germany, diving to his left and smacking away the ball headed for the back of the net.

— Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Trump went to extraordinary efforts to pressure the Fed into lowering, from launching criminal probes into Powell and Governor Lisa Cook, to outright insulting the chair’s intelligence.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Sigcho-Lopez then turned around to face aldermen sitting in the back row who appeared to be insulting him during the exchange.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Definition of insulting

Verb

Besides hitting their price target — about $350 per square foot — Talbot and his wife, Marisol, were taken with the modern design with a 14-foot clerestory ceiling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
To the moon All the political developments of the last 24 hours have not stopped stocks, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting 53,000 for the first time ever.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

The escalation should start with a warning from the chair, followed by a motion of the board of censure (asking the owner to quiet down), followed by a motion to eject the offending owner from the meeting.

— Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
Slow-motion replays and still images distort the offending player’s actions, with innocuous tackles looking more serious.

— Tom Bogert, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of offending

Verb

Halty embraces the way Senda Athletics is punching above its weight as a sportswear brand in a tournament full of global brands and stars.

— Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
An impromptu blind date with a handsome rapist ends with Esther punching him square in the nose, his blood gushing through her fingers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026

Definition of punching

Verb

Prosecutors allege Clay intentionally drove his car onto the sidewalk, sped toward a crowd of pedestrians and hit eight of them before slamming into a gate.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Paul has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026