bobbed 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of bob
as in shaved
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bobbed

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of bob
1
as in pumped
to make short up-and-down movements a family of ducks bobbing on the water

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in smacked
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention

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 bobbed
Verb
The Chiefs had no answer for Smith-Njigba, who bobbed and weaved his way through the defense for nine catches, 150 yards and a touchdown. — Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026 On a recent morning, surfers bobbed in the water off North Beach, not far from the rocky structure shoring up the train tracks by the sea. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 As the balloon carrying the cauldron rose and bobbed a couple hundred feet overhead, many got busy taking photos and recording videos and selfies. — Hannah Bloch, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026 During the Hudson Williams look-alike contest, Hoefer zoned out as a large cardboard cutout of the Heated Rivalry star’s face bobbed over the crowd. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 My Lady Clam bobbed in the water, which didn’t look so turbulent from where Kath sat. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 One afternoon as a rookie, listening to coaches drone on in a dark room with film cutups flashing in front of them, his head bobbed. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Six young women — hair fashionably bobbed, shins covered by knee-high socks — posed in dark, modest swimming suits in the tiled abyss of an empty swimming pool. — Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 Wooden boats bobbed in long rows, their names and registration numbers hand-painted on the hulls, as men in neon vests unloaded catch and frigate birds swooped down to pick at the scraps. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bobbed
  1. shaved
  2. pumped
  3. smacked
  4. cut
  5. shook
  6. slapped
  7. clipped
  8. jerked
Verb
  • Miley Cyrus shaved the head of a fan who’s being treated for breast cancer.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Especially right now, since Amazon just shaved 25% off for the Prime Day afterparty.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of shaved
Verb
  • Kennedy also pointed to millions of dollars being pumped into this race on both sides, saying each party sees the seat as in play.
    — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The fuel was pumped across a hose to Mineral Europa by a converted bunkering vessel, Shenghang Yongle, which entered service less than five weeks before the operation.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pumped
Verb
  • Wilson rocked the stanchion with a ferocious dunk in transition in the fourth quarter, only to have his next attempt at a full-court sprint smacked away by Jamal Shead, leading to a Leonard 3-pointer on the other end.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Eagles also have been smacked with injuries and played without several key starters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of smacked
Verb
  • The defense once again gave the offense an opportunity, forcing an Argyle punt, and this time, Heritage capitalized with a 2-yard rushing TD from Vargas to cut the lead to 7 points.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Later that month, Achilles, a university lecturer, cut a campaign ad in the spirit of a tongue-in-cheek corporate training video on how to avoid starting a foreign war.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • Risch initially shook the challenger’s hand, then pulled back and brushed past him.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But Todd Golden’s squad shook off a sluggish first half, quickly turned a two-point halftime lead into a double-digit advantage and kept the Hatters at bay during an 85-68 win Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of shook
Verb
  • Public support among Americans has plummeted, and partners in Europe and elsewhere have slapped sanctions on Israel.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • According to an affidavit for an arrest warrant, Gilder also attempted to leave with a ring, which was slapped out of his possession and recovered at the scene of the robbery.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapped
Verb
  • China Strategy Sales were clipped by ongoing store closures, with Kering shuttering 105 units in the first nine months of the year, including 25 Gucci boutiques.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Their participation builds your credibility by association and recordings can be clipped into social content that extends your reach, especially when guests share it too.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of clipped
Verb
  • During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Somewhere nearby, in a dark office, an eavesdropping oreja has just jerked to attention on his hard little chair.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerked

Browse Nearby Words

bob
bobbed
bobbed (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Bobbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bobbed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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