as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
zapped the annoying bug with a swatter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of zaps
This is especially vital as Mars in your 4th House of Memory zaps Chiron in your sociable 7th house.
—
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Ace zaps back, letting loose a laugh punctuated with manic handclaps.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
If that means the Evil Twin Pink Pineapple, prepare for a goblet of roseate brew whose tartness zaps the mouth like a laser.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Wait to dig the tubers until a killing freeze zaps all the foliage.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2025
Fester zaps the whole place, shutting off the power and freeing all the Outcasts from their cages.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Ace zaps back, letting loose a laugh punctuated with manic handclaps.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
If that means the Evil Twin Pink Pineapple, prepare for a goblet of roseate brew whose tartness zaps the mouth like a laser.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Wait to dig the tubers until a killing freeze zaps all the foliage.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2025
Fester zaps the whole place, shutting off the power and freeing all the Outcasts from their cages.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zaps
Verb
-
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway revealed that the moment Ike slaps Jackie came across so emotional and raw because the stunt went wrong.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Three weeks later, in early October, Kim knocks on Helen’s door.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
One of the biggest knocks on him is his lack of experience.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This midsize option from Bagsmart hits the sweet spot with plenty of interior and exterior pockets to keep essentials organized and accessible.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
15 Jan. 2026
-
And that, in turn, is pushing more credit card and loan accounts into delinquency, forcing borrowers to try and find the right way to respond after a collection notice appears or a new account hits their credit file.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Squad' rep's felon husband smacks phone from reporter 3.—
,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Just as this monster is about to take out the entire team on the Abyss, a giant boulder flies through the air and smacks him in the face.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Back at the table, Stacey slams Tia for continuing to bring up the issue.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
But dropping the gloves can feel like an exasperating last act born of desperation and hopelessness - a door that slams behind you, leaves you in the dark and seldom reopens.—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coley punches back, and Sonya manages to pull her off of him.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 Dec. 2025
-
Red Masks hold Fiona back Fiona as Constance punches her multiple times.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Poor Indigenous, Black, the people from the favelas, when the police go there and kill 120 people there, and the population basically claps and thinks that that’s great.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
2 Dec. 2025
-
Legacy is made from the small, repeatable disciplines no one claps for, but everyone benefits from.—
Cody Bjugan,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Then little Holly Wheeler and her 10-year-old friends, including the Season 5 favorite Derek (Jake Connelly), all swarm into the basement and take over the D&D table in a passing of the torch that basically whacks the audience over our collective heads.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Fed up with Nicky’s dramatics, Lester uses his elevator crank and whacks the former hard in the back of his neck.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Zaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zaps. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
