clap 1 of 2

noun

Definition of clapnext
1
as in bang
a loud explosive sound a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in thump
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

clap

2 of 2

verb

ˈklap How to pronounce clap (audio)
as in to slap
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 clap
Noun
There were the polite claps after good attacks by the Swiss, sarcastic whistles by the Qatari fans after their team again failed to mount a threat. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026 Other players, especially the younger players and newcomers, did head over toward La Familia and give them waves and claps. — Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
Verb
Dressed in their school uniforms, classmates stood on chairs set up in the cafeteria and clapped along as the band — then, The Coast Watchers — plucked instrumental-only surf rock tunes. — Chris Placek, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026 As thousands sing, clap and chant together, attendees describe a feeling of bliss and belonging, a chance to step outside the pressures of work, studies and an increasingly competitive society. — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clap
  1. bang
  2. thump
  3. slap
  4. boom
  5. blow
  6. smack
  7. blast
  8. thud
Noun
  • The long, curly ends she was once revered for were now chopped to her chin, while her bangs mingled over her brows.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • Plus, most of the items can be worn from season to season (talk about getting a good bang for your buck).
    — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Definition of bang
Noun
  • That next phase will focus on measuring the shockwaves generated by the X-59 in flight, along with evaluating the sonic thump impact on the ground.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
  • Not long after, Jamison’s parents reported hearing a loud thump, as though someone had fallen, according to prosecutors.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • Some of them slapped strict limits on all gas stations; in others, gas station chains limited how much fuel could be bought.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Actor Orlando Brown slapped recording artist Ray J in the face with a wad of cash.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
Definition of slap
Noun
  • The offering will be a crucial test of investors’ desire to keep funding the AI boom.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • For an artist with a legacy as impactful as Jay-Z’s, the current anniversary boom feel like the latest phase of a longer project of deciding who gets to turn hip-hop history into intellectual property.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
Definition of boom
Noun
  • Vingegaard’s victory at the Giro d’Italia in May, allied with Wout Van Aert’s cathartic win at Paris-Roubaix, has delivered two key objectives but the surprise departure of head of racing Grischa Niermann to Lidl-Trek was a blow.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Moniak smacked a 424-foot homer to right-center with one down in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Kara and Ruthye figure out the Brigands are trafficking young women for dastardly purposes, giving them yet another reason to smack some dudes around.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of smack
Noun
  • Torrens doubled New York's advantage with a one-out blast in the seventh against Mason Fluharty, his second of the season.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Now, the United States is experiencing its own blast of dangerous heat, particularly in the East, which is facing skyrocketing temperatures and high humidity.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Definition of blast
Noun
  • Regardless of motive, the proposals that have come out of MLB’s New York headquarters have been vast and aggressive, and have landed with a thud in both clubhouses around the league, and with people who cover the sport for a living.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The song stands on its own, but would have been more effective if the preceding songs were more 2001 than 2000 AD, and if producer Dan Lancaster had not mixed it so densely that cosmic chaos sounds like a single sustaining thud.
    — Liam Inscoe-Jones, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
Definition of thud

Phrases Containing clap

Browse Nearby Words

clansmen
clap
clapped
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Cite this Entry

“Clap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on clap

Nglish: Translation of clap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clap

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