as in slapping
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
he smacked the punching bag one final time before heading to the showers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smacking
And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.
—Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
The suspect could also be seen smacking something out of an employee's hand during the video.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
Sparks from the electrical discharges -- akin to static electricity here on Earth -- are clearly audible amid the noisy wind gusts and dust particles smacking the microphone.
—Marcia Dunn The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
Myron did an amazing job just smacking the two together and then finding the shots that match.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
In reality, other seizures can look quite different – sometimes appearing as nothing more than a brief pause in speech, a vacant stare or small, repetitive movements like lip smacking or blinking.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Fear of falling, or smacking one’s face onto the cold hard earth, is an innate human emotion.
—Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2025
An arrest warrant has been issued for a high school football player accused of intentionally smacking one of his opponents on the head at their game, according to investigators in North Florida.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smacking
Verb
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
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That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Verb
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The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.—
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After hitting just 4 of 30 threes against the Pacers, Miami opened 4 for 4 from distance, shot 8 for 16 on threes in the first half and finished 17 for 32.—
Verb
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The right words can open doors the heart’s been knocking on for a while.—
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Once the buzz starts, fringe brands come knocking.—
Verb
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Bystander video footage that has since gone viral captured a masked federal agent fire multiple shots into Good's vehicle, which then drove up the street before slamming into the back of another car.—
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Convenience store owners are slamming the proposal as restrictive and unnecessary.—
Verb
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The University of Miami defeated Ole Miss, 31-27, in a Fiesta Bowl semifinal thriller, punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.—
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That footage showed Jones elbowing, stomping and punching the boy, and prompted the police investigation.—
Verb
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One woman carried a flag for Palestine, while a man banging a cowbell hung a flag of communist Cuba on his backpack.—
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Gamers have turned to walkthroughs and hints for years, but usually after banging their own heads against difficult challenges, and hence learning something in the process.—
Verb
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The robot showcased exemplary skills with the bat, whacking the ball precisely in a rally of over 100 shots with human-like agility.—
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New York put the screws to its division rival on Tuesday, whacking nine home runs to cruise to a 13-3 victory.—
Verb
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Kittle was trying to encourage his teammates as he was being carted off, clapping in their direction.—
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Mann’s hilarious Brad says to Ben, grinning nervously and clapping his hands in an attempt to make friends.—
Cite this Entry
“Smacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smacking. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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