as in hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
zapped the annoying bug with a swatter
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Recent Examples of zapped
Though the bolt had an apparent hankering for coconuts and avoided a direct hit through my scalp, the current traveled through the earth, zapped my feet, and sent me jumping into the air and, ultimately, to the emergency room.
—
Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
The buds start opening only to get zapped by icy temperatures.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
Where Barbie was forced to reconsider Barbieland’s values after paying a visit to the real world, Adam is forced to uphold the real world’s values after being zapped back to a fantasyland whose greatest warriors have been utterly demoralized by their insufficient physical force.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 June 2026
In Houston, Jeff Wright says his neighbors are already asking him about VPPs after his home system zapped his monthly utility bills to effectively zero.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 30 May 2026
The fact that Edwards returned from a hyperextended knee in nine days is incredible, though the injury zapped some of his explosiveness.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 22 May 2026
This year, historically warm temperatures zapped the snow that's the foundation of Park City's economy and identity.
—David Condos, NPR, 19 May 2026
But the first trimester zapped her energy.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2026
The gadget works by utilizing a blue-violet light to attract insects, which are then zapped by a 4200-volt electric grid on contact.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
The buds start opening only to get zapped by icy temperatures.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
Where Barbie was forced to reconsider Barbieland’s values after paying a visit to the real world, Adam is forced to uphold the real world’s values after being zapped back to a fantasyland whose greatest warriors have been utterly demoralized by their insufficient physical force.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 June 2026
In Houston, Jeff Wright says his neighbors are already asking him about VPPs after his home system zapped his monthly utility bills to effectively zero.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 30 May 2026
The fact that Edwards returned from a hyperextended knee in nine days is incredible, though the injury zapped some of his explosiveness.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 22 May 2026
This year, historically warm temperatures zapped the snow that's the foundation of Park City's economy and identity.
—David Condos, NPR, 19 May 2026
But the first trimester zapped her energy.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2026
The gadget works by utilizing a blue-violet light to attract insects, which are then zapped by a 4200-volt electric grid on contact.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zapped
Verb
-
Israeli strikes hit several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning local time, killing at least five people, Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported, despite Israel and Hezbollah renewing their truce Friday.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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Temperatures are expected to soar on June 22 in parts of Oregon and Washington, possibly hitting 100 degrees in Portland and at least 90 degrees in Seattle.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
If the 348 was one of the few forgettable Ferraris, its successor knocked it out of the park with peerless styling, an exotic five-valve-per-cylinder V-8, and a quantum leap in performance.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
-
There was Peninsula, which had knocked Harvard-Westlake from the playoffs during their freshman year.—
gqlshare,
Daily News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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For the viewer, the satisfaction comes through vicarious tactile sensation—witnessing how the thatch gets smacked in by a flat, hammerlike device, or the way a tile slots perfectly into a shelf niche.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
-
Then, on June 15, 2025, in Kansas City, Kurtz smacked a go-ahead homer off then-Royals closer Carlos Estévez.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Aranda slapped an outside changeup on a line down the leftfield line, and the ball struck the screen on the fair side of foul pole for a three-run homer.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
-
The Days of Our Lives actress slapped Today show anchor Craig Melvin mid-interview.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Federico Valverde's powerful 67th minute free kick from the left is punched away by Al-Owais.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
Chicago police are asking for help finding the man who punched a woman in the head at a CTA Pink Line stop last week in the North Lawndale neighborhood.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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During a press conference in the Panhandle on Tuesday, Collins took off his prosthetic leg and slammed it on the podium in response to a question from a reporter.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 June 2026
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But Republican rival Steve Hilton slammed the group for political opportunism.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Mitchell Robinson elbow checked him in the face, Jose Alvarado pulled off a single-legged take-down in the first half, and Towns drew a frustration flagrant foul when Wembanyama whacked him in the face.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
-
The Knicks are also getting whacked every time down the court.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The Americans gradually amplified their attack centered around Pulisic’s runs — and three minutes after an apparent goal from Balogun was erased by an offside call, Pulisic again drove the left side and got a deflected pass to the trailing Balogun, who banged it home.—
Greg Beacham,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
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Instead, both hesitated, their feet tangled and a charging Healy banged in the loose ball.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zapped. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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