as in extremely
to a great degree
wrote several thumping big books on World War II
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in smacking
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
thumped the desk with his hand as he delivered his speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
playfully knocked his younger brother down and began to thump him with a foam bat
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in pounding
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thumping
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Eddie Howe will hope Newcastle’s 4-0 thumping of USG is the first sign of their new-look front line gelling, with Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon (two penalties) and Harvey Barnes all on target.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
The strange clip, released on the actor’s social media pages, is set to a thumping electronic score that samples Jason Mewes’ monologue from the 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
After a 38-10 thumping by Clemson on Saturday that dropped the program to 2-3, North Carolina didn't need any more negative publicity for first-year head coach Bill Belichick.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
And the performance in Belgrade last month — a thumping 5-0 win against Serbia — suggested that Tuchel’s ideas may finally be clicking with the players.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The twinkling synth lines and thumping four-on-the-floor pattern create a groove as irresistible as the woman Iwar yearns for.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
His band delivered distorted guitar, thumping bass and gritty percussion.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Then in the offseason, the Lions lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs, leading some to question whether the team’s window was closing — questions that grew louder after a Week 1 thumping to the Green Bay Packers to start the year.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2025
Latin trap, which draws both its name and its sound from the thumping-and-ticking hip-hop of the American South, is slower and woozier, and in some ways more flexible.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Adverb
The film stars Vahid Mubasseri as a mechanic with painful kidney injuries from prison beatings who first follows the distinctive thumping sound of a prosthetic leg that’s etched on his brain and sets the plot in motion.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Eddie Howe will hope Newcastle’s 4-0 thumping of USG is the first sign of their new-look front line gelling, with Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon (two penalties) and Harvey Barnes all on target.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
Paredones laid down thumping cumbia bass lines as Adolfo Mercado, often compared to Animal of The Muppets, wailed on the drums.
—Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
The strange clip, released on the actor’s social media pages, is set to a thumping electronic score that samples Jason Mewes’ monologue from the 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
After a 38-10 thumping by Clemson on Saturday that dropped the program to 2-3, North Carolina didn't need any more negative publicity for first-year head coach Bill Belichick.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
And the performance in Belgrade last month — a thumping 5-0 win against Serbia — suggested that Tuchel’s ideas may finally be clicking with the players.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The twinkling synth lines and thumping four-on-the-floor pattern create a groove as irresistible as the woman Iwar yearns for.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
His band delivered distorted guitar, thumping bass and gritty percussion.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Then in the offseason, the Lions lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs, leading some to question whether the team’s window was closing — questions that grew louder after a Week 1 thumping to the Green Bay Packers to start the year.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2025
Latin trap, which draws both its name and its sound from the thumping-and-ticking hip-hop of the American South, is slower and woozier, and in some ways more flexible.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumping
Adverb
-
The last six decades or so have been an extremely subtle hint, and the rest of us have cracked the code.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
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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
Verb
-
Led by blaring ‘80s synthesizers and a pounding beat, the song features a distorted lead vocal from D’Angelo, who accompanies himself on multitracked backing vocals with the occasional soul shriek thrown in for good measure.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
-
John Candy famously took a racquetball to the skull in a key comedic scene from the 1984 film Splash — and fellow actor Tom Hanks recalls that his late costar's head might've been pounding already after Candy spent the night before drinking with Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the Bears rebounded with encouraging victories — a home thrashing of the Cowboys followed by a character-building come-from-behind magic act in Las Vegas.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Elordi treated excited fans to selfies and autographs until the very last second, and del Toro spent much time doing the same to the delight of his fans.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
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In keeping with that, many clear protein powders available online seem to contain no fats and very few carbs (one to two grams), if any at all.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As EPs, celebrities might do anything from simply slapping their name on a poster to glad-handing for an awards campaign to getting deeply involved in production.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Violeta Santos Moura | Reuters Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of trying to weaken the global economy by slapping export controls on resources vital for technology.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The sugars in the glaze coat the chicken and carrots to create a finger-licking delicious dinner.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
-
And the Trojans’ defense that came in licking its wounds after allowing 502 yards in a last-gasp loss at Illinois two weeks ago?—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The 4-0 hammering in France has seen Ajax’s chance of elimination before the knockout stage rise to 85 per cent.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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There and at Jebel Misma, the team found stone-hammering tools left behind by the artists in layers of sediment dating back 12,000 years.—
Martin J. Kernan,
Scientific American,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumping. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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