1
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
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2
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
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Recent Examples of slapping
Itoje was sin-binned in the 64th for illegally slapping the ball in a maul and 13 men were playing Italy's 15.
—
ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
As opposed to slapping a host of aerodynamic elements on there, Xiaomi's designers integrated the aerodynamics into the car's shape itself.
—New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
His home run in the first got the night started for A&M, who followed it up with another run in the fourth thanks to Terrence Kiel II slapping a single past the second baseman, driving home outfield Caden Sorrell, pushing the Aggies' lead to 2-0.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
But then, during the challenge, when Ozzy knocks the key off a post, Coach weasels in and grabs it even after Ozzy has been slapping his limp pole at it for the better part of an hour.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, in Europe, giving the green light will be up to the EU’s antitrust chief, Teresa Ribeira, who has been slapping hefty fines lately on Google and Elon Musk’s X for breaching European Union rules.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Vacuum The Cushions For dusty sofas, start by taking the cushions outside and slapping them to release debris and dust.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Motamedi argues Cogent isn’t just slapping generic AI on security problems.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Credit World star Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs for slapping some life into his NBA colleagues.
—Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
As opposed to slapping a host of aerodynamic elements on there, Xiaomi's designers integrated the aerodynamics into the car's shape itself.
—New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
His home run in the first got the night started for A&M, who followed it up with another run in the fourth thanks to Terrence Kiel II slapping a single past the second baseman, driving home outfield Caden Sorrell, pushing the Aggies' lead to 2-0.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
But then, during the challenge, when Ozzy knocks the key off a post, Coach weasels in and grabs it even after Ozzy has been slapping his limp pole at it for the better part of an hour.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, in Europe, giving the green light will be up to the EU’s antitrust chief, Teresa Ribeira, who has been slapping hefty fines lately on Google and Elon Musk’s X for breaching European Union rules.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Vacuum The Cushions For dusty sofas, start by taking the cushions outside and slapping them to release debris and dust.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Motamedi argues Cogent isn’t just slapping generic AI on security problems.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Credit World star Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs for slapping some life into his NBA colleagues.
—Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapping
Verb
-
Her furious attempts to extricate herself from Ramirez ended with her smacking her head on the parking lot asphalt and Ramirez hitting her in the right eye, according to the arrest report.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Shepard attached the head of a 6-iron golf club to his sample collecting tool and was recorded smacking a couple golf balls across the lunar landscape.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Giving these rewards is logistically difficult, expensive for the teacher, and insulting for the kid.—
Scott Ervin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
She was detained in September and charged with posting propaganda critical of the Islamic Republic on social media and insulting its Supreme Leader and Islam, according to her son Reza Zarrabi, a political activist who lives in Germany.—
Philip Marcelo,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iran has repeatedly denied targeting oil infrastructure and other civilian targets in the war, despite its drone and missile fire hitting those sites.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
At the same time, Anderson recruited Burkle as the heavy hitting investor behind a counteroffer to keep the team in Sacramento that ultimately fell through after Burkle pulled out.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
O'Herrin notes that chopping down the offending tree is not going solve your issue in the long term.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
If a team has a second offense under this proposal, the offending team would be given a 5-yard penalty.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Canadarm was used for spacewalking, several Hubble Space Telescope missions and some impromptu maneuvers such as knocking an ice plug off a frozen shuttle drain line, according to NASA.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Return to New York when Broadway comes knocking.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The actor is accused of punching the second man in the nose.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
In January 2022, Rivas was arrested for allegedly punching Hall in the face, according to police.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Drivers are sending last-minute emails, riding each other’s bumpers, going too fast or too slow, slamming on their brakes, not letting each other merge.—
Rose Evans
Updated March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Then, just as abruptly, the plane lurched up, slamming everyone back to the ground.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mosaku said, banging the counter.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone’s hitting, banging bodies.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapping. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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