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
Airlines across the region, like Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are slapping hefty fuel surcharges on flights; Vietnam and the Philippines are even weighing whether to ground planes.
—
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
But every so often there comes a day that is so different—so unusual—so spectacular that its happening can only be chalked up to old-fashioned, knee-slapping good luck.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
After Woodward converted for the RedHawks, Conte made a save on the Porters’ first shooter, slapping away the ball.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
When the Rockets called a time out, the Lakers bench all ran over to Doncic, hugging him, slapping him and James nudging him for a job very well done.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
About 15 minutes later, another 911 call comes in from a woman named Jane Kowalski, who sees Denise Lee slapping the back window of King's car and hears her screaming for help.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Everyone erupted into cheers, slapping their 14-year-old brother on the back and jostling him playfully.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
But every so often there comes a day that is so different—so unusual—so spectacular that its happening can only be chalked up to old-fashioned, knee-slapping good luck.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
After Woodward converted for the RedHawks, Conte made a save on the Porters’ first shooter, slapping away the ball.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
When the Rockets called a time out, the Lakers bench all ran over to Doncic, hugging him, slapping him and James nudging him for a job very well done.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
About 15 minutes later, another 911 call comes in from a woman named Jane Kowalski, who sees Denise Lee slapping the back window of King's car and hears her screaming for help.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Everyone erupted into cheers, slapping their 14-year-old brother on the back and jostling him playfully.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapping
Verb
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In Los Angeles, Jonathon Redondo-Rosales was charged with assault for smacking an agent with a hat after a car struck him.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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But a leadoff walk in the top of the 9th allowed Eugenio Suárez to knock in what would prove to be the winning run, smacking a double to left center field and scoring pinch runner Javier Sonoja.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The judge ruled Thursday that Souhaib Qabli, a 23-year-old rapper, was guilty of insulting a constitutional body, his attorney Mohamed Taifi told The Associated Press.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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The judge ruled Thursday that Souhaib Qabli, a 23-year-old rapper, was guilty of insulting a constitutional body, his attorney Mohamed Taifi told the Associated Press.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rest of starters Tristan da Silva opened by hitting his first 3-pointer and made all four of his first-half free throws to reach 11 points by the break.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
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The surge is also hitting refinance demand, not just purchases, as higher rates have reversed activity that had briefly improved earlier in the month.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Across the market, streamers appear increasingly reluctant to touch documentaries that risk offending political power centers or their allies.—
Addie Morfoot,
IndieWire,
22 Mar. 2026
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When acute injury is diagnosed quickly, clinicians can remove offending drugs or add protective ones.—
Jyoti Madhusoodanan,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Things got worse for the Wild a few shifts later when Spurgeon foiled a Florida rush to the Minnesota net, but went down at full speed and slid hard into the goalpost, knocking the net off the moorings.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
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The level 3 out of 5, or the area with numerous severe thunderstorms, is literally knocking on the door.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that while LaBeouf’s attorneys were still aggressively pursuing their position and seeking monetary compensation from Barnett, a partying LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans on assault charges for allegedly punching two bar patrons.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
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Everyone should be protecting their skulls 200 percent more in this situation and ideally also not punching each other.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Democrats, especially, are slamming the move to deploy them in place of TSA officers, since the tactics used for immigration enforcement are some of the main reasons for the government shutdown in the first place.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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The Tucson hit both vehicles before slamming into the police cruiser and the tractor-trailer, cops said.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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People fed up with rolling blackouts have staged sporadic protests in recent days, banging pots and shouting slogans against the government, rare demonstrations in a country known for repressing dissent.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Mar. 2026
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Late Thursday night into early Friday morning, residents in several neighborhoods in Havana took to the streets, banging pots and pans and, in some cases, lighting bonfires to block major roads in the capital — a sign of escalating frustration.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapping. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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