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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smacking
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
But the night version of this sport requires players to really play tennis, rather than simply smacking the ball.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
My long-term goals are more important than smacking.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
The suspect could also be seen smacking something out of an employee's hand during the video.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
Sparks from the electrical discharges -- akin to static electricity here on Earth -- are clearly audible amid the noisy wind gusts and dust particles smacking the microphone.
—Marcia Dunn The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
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
But the night version of this sport requires players to really play tennis, rather than simply smacking the ball.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.
—Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
My long-term goals are more important than smacking.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
The suspect could also be seen smacking something out of an employee's hand during the video.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
Sparks from the electrical discharges -- akin to static electricity here on Earth -- are clearly audible amid the noisy wind gusts and dust particles smacking the microphone.
—Marcia Dunn The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smacking
Verb
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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,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
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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,
New Atlas,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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Then, just as abruptly, the plane lurched up, slamming everyone back to the ground.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Mosaku said, banging the counter.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone’s hitting, banging bodies.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rio’s staunch griminess, dreaming of whacking his brother and wanting to cut his nephew’s tongue for snitching, drags Fxce out into the open sea.—
Matthew Ritchie,
Pitchfork,
23 Feb. 2026
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Next thing, authorities told media outlets, a 63-year-old player allegedly punched an opponent and then used his pickleball paddle as a weapon, whacking a 70-year-old in the face.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Doncic’s technical was his 14th of the season – he wasn’t whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
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Doncic received his 14th technical foul of the season in the second quarter, and he wasn't whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smacking. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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