1
as in bangs
a loud explosive sound
a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in thumps
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a sharp clap to the head of the disrespectful youth
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
clapped him on the back as a friendly gesture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 claps
Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
Stewart said to massive claps from the audience.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Owen Wilson’s Stick has been renewed for a second season; the news was likely received to just mild golf claps among the online golfing community.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2025
Bounces reporter Ben Rothenberg noted that the president received some claps as well.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
However, videos of a booing crowd with a few claps quickly made it to social media.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
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
And a couple claps their way through Swift's discography.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 8 Aug. 2025
Koko yelps and claps in surprise.
—David Cavell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
Green claps along, and is visibly impressed when Freeman hits that signature high note.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2025
Detroit Pistons team owner Tom Gores claps during the press conference on July 30, 2021 at the Pistons Performance Center in Detroit, Michigan.
—Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024
When the camera zooms in on Haines, the gnat can be seen buzzing around above her head (as evidenced in Entertainment Weekly's extremely serious investigative photos below) before Goldberg launches her military action and claps her hands while Haines speaks.
—EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
As the crowd claps, Robert stares at Yas.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 29 Sep. 2024
Noun
The joyous screams and claps of hundreds of high school students boomed outside the sanctuary at Murewa Centre Mission of the United Methodist Church.
—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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for claps
Noun
-
The star of her beauty look is definitely her asymmetrical, choppy bangs.—
-
Burrow, who spoke with media after the Bengals lost 18-20 to the Cleveland Browns, seemed bothered by his 'do from the start, sitting down at the mic and instantly raking his lengthy bangs back with his hands.—
Verb
-
The tarp slaps the frame of the truck’s roof.—
-
As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Noun
-
Through two world wars, a Great Depression, and social upheaval, booms and busts, California endured.—
-
Videos shared on social media showed flashes of light illuminating the night sky followed by loud booms echoing through residential areas.—
Verb
-
Three weeks later, in early October, Kim knocks on Helen’s door.—
-
One of the biggest knocks on him is his lack of experience.—
Noun
-
Outside the capital, in La Guaira state, families with houses damaged in blasts during the operation that captured Maduro and his wife were still cleaning up debris.—
-
In addition to the blasts, residents across Caracas described hearing sirens and sporadic gunfire in various neighborhoods, adding to the sense of confusion and fear.—
Noun
-
Punch Makes a Comeback Exotic and nostalgic punches are taking center stage in home entertaining, offering both visual appeal and easy service.—
-
The humanoid performs spins, punches, one-legged stances, rapid kicks, and low sweeps, then transitions into aerobatic sequences.—
Verb
-
In exchange for Sonis, Summit FC sent $120,000 to Louisville, a sum that could rise to $160,000 if Sonis hits certain performance conditions.—
-
Keeping the Uconnect infotainment system in play is also a win for the Stellantis brand with its extremely simplistic useability, which really hits home for many.—
Noun
-
Here, a sliver of orangey-red pops against a cool-toned ruby hue.—
-
The common spaces, meanwhile, draw on a more tropical color palette, with pops of blue, green, pink, and gold.—
Cite this Entry
“Claps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/claps. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share