1
as in smacking
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she was so mad that she wanted to slap him right across the face
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in insulting
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
tired of jokes that slap people of faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapping
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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Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
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.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 15 Dec. 2025
Sturridge’s hand shoots up from the murk, grasping the air and slapping the planks before his body follows.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2025
Jadon Sancho, more technically accomplished but not quite as energetic, instead made way, slapping a seat on the bench in frustration.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Just slapping giant, festive bows on top of the jars works too.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
Later, the first major production deal announced by the new Paramount was a first-look pact with Will Smith, still tainted from slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 4 Dec. 2025
Rambunctious from the start, he was fired from Romper Room for slapping the camera, an inauspicious show-business entrée if ever there were one.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
The van reaches home ground and no one talks and the only sound along that final stretch is El Camello slapping himself to scare away mosquitoes.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapping
Verb
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And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.—
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Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.—
Verb
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Despite his mediator role, Rodríguez is also known for his explosive temperament, lashing out in Congress and publicly threatening and insulting members of the opposition.—
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That doesn't mean your comment can't be casual or in your own words, but the council will almost always bar people from swearing or insulting others.—
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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Its safety initiatives, which about 15% of its staff work on, include using machine learning to identify and remove offending content and equipping community moderators to uphold its policies, its website shows.—
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The offending artwork was taken down on Monday, the same day WaPo notified the agency.—
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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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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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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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Slapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapping. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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