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
as in pounding
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in slapping
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thumping
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Florida went on an 11-point run in the first half, just for UConn to end the half on a 28-14 thumping.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
The Bulldogs have shut them out six times during that streak, including last year’s 43-0 thumping.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Mariota played well in his first start, a Week 3 thumping of the Raiders.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
After Sunday’s 35-7 thumping of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Rams can enjoy their bye this season with a certain level of confidence.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cats sometimes seek shelter under or inside cars, so Hill’s Pet Nutrition recommends getting into the habit of thumping the hood and making noise before starting your vehicle to give any hiding cats a chance to move.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
With his back to goal, the Brazilian brought the ball under control with the outside of his boot to wheel out into space before thumping home with his left foot.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The storm was expected to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas, with the worst weather moving east into the Deep South before heading up the coast and thumping New England with snow.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
The duo injects a dose of NYC swagger to the thumping bassline, which is sure to make listeners’ shoulders bop.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026
Displays with flashing TVs and thumping music chart the shoe’s course from its debut at the 1968 Olympics, its NBA adoption in the 1970s, to its role on the feet of skateboarders and dancers throughout the decades.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Minnesota is now 5-4-4 in its past 13 games, which began with a 5-1 thumping by Colorado.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
When Lauren turned on a Black Eyed Peas song with thumping bass while in her Jeep on a warm night last summer, Sam reached to turn up the volume.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
Six different players scored in a 7-0 thumping of a surging Needham group — with three goals coming from the third line.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Florida went on an 11-point run in the first half, just for UConn to end the half on a 28-14 thumping.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
The Bulldogs have shut them out six times during that streak, including last year’s 43-0 thumping.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Mariota played well in his first start, a Week 3 thumping of the Raiders.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
After Sunday’s 35-7 thumping of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Rams can enjoy their bye this season with a certain level of confidence.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
While Olympians in Milan walked into a packed stadium with flashing lights and thumping techno music played by a DJ at a turntable that looked like ice, the mountain ceremonies took place through the streets.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cats sometimes seek shelter under or inside cars, so Hill’s Pet Nutrition recommends getting into the habit of thumping the hood and making noise before starting your vehicle to give any hiding cats a chance to move.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
With his back to goal, the Brazilian brought the ball under control with the outside of his boot to wheel out into space before thumping home with his left foot.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The storm was expected to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas, with the worst weather moving east into the Deep South before heading up the coast and thumping New England with snow.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
The duo injects a dose of NYC swagger to the thumping bassline, which is sure to make listeners’ shoulders bop.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026
Displays with flashing TVs and thumping music chart the shoe’s course from its debut at the 1968 Olympics, its NBA adoption in the 1970s, to its role on the feet of skateboarders and dancers throughout the decades.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
Minnesota is now 5-4-4 in its past 13 games, which began with a 5-1 thumping by Colorado.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
When Lauren turned on a Black Eyed Peas song with thumping bass while in her Jeep on a warm night last summer, Sam reached to turn up the volume.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumping
Adverb
-
Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Even in hockey – a sport that is extremely popular around the world – there are terms used by commentators or pundits that you might not be accustomed to hearing if not a regular to the sport.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The memories remained from crawling across the balcony, the pounding on the chamber doors, the screams echoing through the rotunda.—
Norma Torres,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In that room, Cristobal didn’t come down hard on his staff, no yelling or pounding of the table.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But 6-11 has a way of slapping you in the face.—
Sam McDowell
January 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Having stabilized his ship in orbit around the black hole, Dr Hans Reinhardt (a bizarre, OTT performance from Maximilian Schell) now plans to fly into it, assisted by an unquestioning crew of automatons with a very dark origin story.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
While promoting her new miniseries Vanished in New York City on February 3, the actor was spotted flashing a peace sign for photographers and carrying a very familiar handbag on the other arm.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Last season’s 56-7 thrashing of former college football power Nebraska.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Vance often has served as an attack dog for the administration, including lashing out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oval Office visit.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Chappell took to social media to vent some of her ire, lashing out at the Biden administration.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumping. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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