as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
zapped the annoying bug with a swatter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of zap
Paradise playing coy with details on Samantha’s plan or how ALEX can be used to save the world plays up the mystery, but this lack of information regarding her thought process zaps the moment of emotion and tension.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Then, a record-breaking heat wave last week zapped much of the remaining snow, raising wildfire concerns and spurring water-use restrictions in places like Denver.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Timothy started to cry, and Plato zapped him again.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Because once they’re zapped, they’re gone.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zap
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Then, a record-breaking heat wave last week zapped much of the remaining snow, raising wildfire concerns and spurring water-use restrictions in places like Denver.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Timothy started to cry, and Plato zapped him again.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Because once they’re zapped, they’re gone.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zap
Verb
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Carson Richter hit a grand slam for Newbury Park.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
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Austin Hays then hit a grounder to third baseman Manny Machado.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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At that house, no one answered a Statesman reporter’s knocks on Monday, but Davidson told the Statesman that his family owns the whole lot.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
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Alex Hebda, of Wheatfield, and Chris Mercaldo, of Valparaiso, were knocking the balls around the pool table.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Met Gala lands smack in the middle of that window, on Monday, May 4 — its traditional first-Monday-in-May slot.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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The boy smacks him in the mouth and then immediately starts crying.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That put an end to the zero-tariff trade environment for exporters on both sides of the Atlantic and slapped new duties onto Scotch whisky and other spirits sent to America from Britain.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
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But what's really cool is that these are not just standard off-the-rack clubs that the folks at McLaren slapped their logo onto.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The Pistons punched back with a 20-5 run as the Magic at one point missed 13 straight shots from the floor.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Brown again pulls his hands away from the cops before Maden starts punching him.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chris Sale sliced and diced and Drake Baldwin banged and bashed as the Braves beat the Rockies 9-1 on Saturday at Coors Field, setting a franchise record by starting the year unbeaten in their first 11 series (10-0-1).—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
3 May 2026
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Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking — and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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No one had to be told to clap their hands for Babe Ruth or Joe DiMaggio.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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My father clapped his shoulder.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The response by Israel to the incident of the idiot IDF soldier in Lebanon who whacked the statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer reflects well upon Israel, which immediately apologized, provided a new statue and jailed the soldier for 30 days.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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Eventually, Deckinga had up to 10 accounts, as the social media service attempted to play whack-a-mole.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zap. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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