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 Yan bounded off the mound, slapping his hand against his glove several times, after the inning ended. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Once again, Yan did the whole jumping, landing, ground-slapping thing (no slide this time though). — Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 But in June, the Council passed a bill by Manhattan Democrat Gale Brewer re-authorizing the Sanitation Department to once again start slapping the overstaying cars with stickers. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 Some of that is obvious, such as Caminero doubling his walk rate from last season, or salvaging an at-bat by slapping a single or even making a productive out. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 His smiley story of slapping a $5 bill on Jalen Carter’s chest after the defensive tackle’s contract extension contributes to a preseason energy that feels a lot like when Hurts and Nick Sirianni rode out of practice together on a golf cart in 2024. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Going viral on social media has a way of slapping you upside the head and showing you the ugly side of notoriety. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 This one is a badass soldier/leader, who can’t stop slapping Stuart, Kripke and Bert. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 31 July 2026 The Congolese drum, a traditional instrument of the Luba people, makes a sound akin to the hand slapping skin. — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapping

Verb

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Iran's government denied involvement in the 2022 stabbing, but its Foreign Ministry's then-spokesperson suggested Rushdie invited trouble by insulting Islam.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
In its portrayal of cross-gender relations, the series is consistently cruel to women, insulting to men, empathetic toward nobody and cynical about everything.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026

Definition of insulting

Verb

Duran started the year hitting third and now bats seventh or eighth, and his hold on everyday playing time might have been saved by Masataka Yoshida’s injury — at least until Roman Anthony’s return.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Digging for compliments Shares in mining giant BHP are trading higher in Australia, hitting a two-month high, after the company topped earnings expectations and unveiled plans to pay its highest dividend in four years.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.

— Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

Definition of outraging

Verb

Alaves' Ángel Pérez was reprimanded by coach Quique Sánchez Flores after being substituted and punching the bench several times.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Speaking to reporters before heading out on a campaign bus tour in Maine, Collins was asked about recent reports of a 1988 incident in which Jackson faced misdemeanor charges for punching an unnamed man.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

Verb

The film also depicts Gorbachev as something of a drama queen during the meetings, slamming the table and raising his voice.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
The active tropics comes on the 22nd anniversary of Hurricane Charley slamming into Florida, the beginning of one of the worst hurricane years in the state’s history.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026