as in slapping
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
he smacked the punching bag one final time before heading to the showers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 smacking
An arrest warrant has been issued for a high school football player accused of intentionally smacking one of his opponents on the head at their game, according to investigators in North Florida.
—
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
In the season four premiere of Mayor of Kingstown, co-creators/writers Hugh Dillon and Taylor Sheridan waste no time smacking viewers with a sense of doom and gloom.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The two had a peculiar conversation where Hawkins said Clifton missed smacking her rear end.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
The first of 12 projects outlined in the book is a literal slapstick, the classic vaudeville tool used to imitate the sound of smacking someone with a stick.
—Michael Roberts, Outside, 9 Oct. 2025
Really, there’s only one character onstage who commands an audience’s attention, and that’s Hines’ gum-smacking sister-in-law, who turns from antagonist to supporter.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle for most home runs in one season for a switch hitter after smacking his 54th dinger yesterday.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Troy Dye replaced Perryman, smacking Mahomes with a pair of solid hits on scrambles, and is likely to fill in again if Perryman can’t play.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
In the middle, a president who promised to put both conflicts to bed – and whose talk of a Nobel Peace Prize is smacking up against the reality of the Gaza and Ukraine wars.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
In the season four premiere of Mayor of Kingstown, co-creators/writers Hugh Dillon and Taylor Sheridan waste no time smacking viewers with a sense of doom and gloom.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The two had a peculiar conversation where Hawkins said Clifton missed smacking her rear end.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
The first of 12 projects outlined in the book is a literal slapstick, the classic vaudeville tool used to imitate the sound of smacking someone with a stick.
—Michael Roberts, Outside, 9 Oct. 2025
Really, there’s only one character onstage who commands an audience’s attention, and that’s Hines’ gum-smacking sister-in-law, who turns from antagonist to supporter.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle for most home runs in one season for a switch hitter after smacking his 54th dinger yesterday.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Troy Dye replaced Perryman, smacking Mahomes with a pair of solid hits on scrambles, and is likely to fill in again if Perryman can’t play.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
In the middle, a president who promised to put both conflicts to bed – and whose talk of a Nobel Peace Prize is smacking up against the reality of the Gaza and Ukraine wars.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smacking
Verb
-
The van reaches home ground and no one talks and the only sound along that final stretch is El Camello slapping himself to scare away mosquitoes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
First, rather than slapping a latex mask and makeup on Schuster-Koloamatangi, performance capture technology is used to have Dek’s face come alive with the actor’s expressions.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Gausman had retired 17 straight Dodger batters until the seventh inning, when Smith yet again got the best of him, hitting a solo home run to break the stale mate.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The singing voices behind KPop Demon Hunters' beloved girl group HUNTR/X will be hitting the stage to perform live in concert for the first time.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There were plenty of upsets, from Houston falling to West Virginia to SMU potentially knocking Miami out of the playoffs one week after the Mustangs lost to Wake Forest.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Door knocking is an important part of campaigning, according to Jeff Lyons, an associate professor at Boise State University.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Ford said earlier that his province was spending $75 million to run ads in the United States slamming the impact of tariffs and featuring clips of Reagan.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In 2023, when video circulated of a police officer punching Christina Pierre, Jennings announced meetings with community leaders to rework policy.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Her past was practically punching its way out of her.—
Natalia Paradies,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The legendary Public Enemy rapper and dating show debutante served as the guest judge on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night, in which the eight remaining couples hit the floor with head-banging routines set to a litany of iconic anthems.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
-
If someone does encounter a coyote, officials said to scare away the animal by yelling, using airhorns, banging pots and pans or throwing objects.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The robot showcased exemplary skills with the bat, whacking the ball precisely in a rally of over 100 shots with human-like agility.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
-
New York put the screws to its division rival on Tuesday, whacking nine home runs to cruise to a 13-3 victory.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
People hate on the Chiefs but here is the offense clapping along to a veteran being honored during their huddle.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The crowd in Santa Fe is a fun mix of old (opera) hats and first time attendees, and the crowd was engaged throughout the performance, clapping after a lot of the major numbers ended in a break from the tradition of waiting until the end of each act.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smacking. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share