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
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Recent Examples of zaps
To record information, a laser zaps data into precise depths of the glass using a series of energy pulses that each last for about one quadrillionth of a second.
—
Damien Pine, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026
In the Boston area, a train with lasers mounted in front zaps the rails to deal with leaf slurry that creates an oil slick.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
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
Damien Pine, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026
In the Boston area, a train with lasers mounted in front zaps the rails to deal with leaf slurry that creates an oil slick.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zaps
Verb
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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
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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
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Her child’s classmates now discuss what to do if ICE knocks on their door.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
7 Feb. 2026
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Before the Michigan game, the main knocks against Fears were his penchant for trash talk on the court and his ability to pester opponents and draw fouls on them.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While this tends to be the case for any Mercury retrograde, those themes are bolstered by the fact that this Mercury retrograde hits your twelfth house of spirituality.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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The star produces x-rays as its stellar wind hits the cooler interstellar medium surrounding the star.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Squad' rep's felon husband smacks phone from reporter 3.—
,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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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
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The incident comes as a powerful winter storm slams California, dumping heavy snow and bringing high winds across the Sierra Nevada.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
18 Feb. 2026
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Winter storm slams the East While Arizona's system is mostly a light-rain and mountain-snow setup, a sprawling winter storm is creating far bigger problems across the eastern half of the country.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hong Kong’s Mighty Mini-Island Cheung Chau, the pint-sized powerhouse of an island, punches well above its weight in charm and chill vibes.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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But for a city of under 60,000 year-round residents, this place punches well above its weight class.—
Brad Japhe,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Legacy is made from the small, repeatable disciplines no one claps for, but everyone benefits from.—
Cody Bjugan,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 27 Feb. 2026.
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