THUMPING Synonyms: 341 Similar and Opposite Words

thumping 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of thumping

as in extremely

to a great degree wrote several thumping big books on World War II

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thumping

2 of 3

noun

as in pounding

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

thumping

3 of 3

verb

present participle of thump

as in slapping

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner thumped the desk with his hand as he delivered his speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in licking

to strike repeatedly playfully knocked his younger brother down and began to thump him with a foam bat

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 thumping

Noun

And Poe, like all the great spooky writers, never explains the thumping but allows the mystery to linger! — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 One guy in cargo shorts and a battered Ramones T-shirt kept casting dirty looks at the sky, clearly annoyed at the thumping of the TV news helicopters — there were at least three overhead at all times — drowning out his commentary. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 The Patriots went on to advance to the Super Bowl, where the Seahawks delivered a thumping. — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026 The rain disappeared, and even the thumping of other Throttle concerts elsewhere on their 600-acre grounds seemed to fade. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 16 Aug. 2026 The erratic thumping of moths doomed by the siren-pull of the kitchen light. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Filled with gray, silty water, the pool was vigorously boiling and producing loud thumping sounds caused by steam bubbles forming and collapsing beneath the surface. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 24 June 2026 Meanwhile, Paraguay is coming off a 4-0 thumping of Nicaragua in their final tune-up before the World Cup. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026 Milan’s 4-0 thumping of Barcelona in 1994 was anomalous compared with the rest of their European campaign that season, but their defensive foundations were strong — with half of their six group games finishing 0-0. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Verb

More than 17,000 Atlanta fans roared the Dream to a thumping 26-point victory and a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals series against the Golden State Valkyries. — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Cityside, guests can head to the thumping heart of Austin nightlife where the Live Music Capital of the World always has a new favorite act and dance floor to cut up waiting just around the corner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Megan’s at home over the mix of piano keys, strings and thumping drums that feels very much synonymous with Houston. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026 Spencer Torkelson hit a three-run homer, Drew Anderson pitched five shutout innings and the Detroit Tigers won their sixth straight game by thumping the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1 on Tuesday night. — CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 The Ravens’ stars came to play in their season opener, thumping the Colts 41-23 behind big days from Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers. — Josh Tolentino, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2026 The 49ers got their season started on the right foot at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, thumping the preseason Super Bowl favorites, 27-7. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Brian Brobbey’s hold-up play was exceptional — one superb lay-off led to Enzo Le Fee thumping a shot off the upright. — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Plus, the 8-inch woofer blasts out thumping bass to get your blood pumping. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumping

Adverb

Today, however, plague is curable and extremely unlikely to blow up into a new pandemic, experts say.

— Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Nowhere was his balancing act viewed more extremely than with Ukraine.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of extremely

Noun

Rucking targets both at once without the joint pounding of running or the recovery debt of hard gym sessions.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Rutted migration routes, carved by the constant pounding of animal hooves, littered northern Pennsylvania.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026

Definition of pounding

Verb

Intriguingly, this might not just be slapping boards into a plastic box.

— Sean Hollister, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
That incident involved Smith rushing the stage and slapping host Chris Rock with an open hand after the Oscars host made jokes about Jada Pinkett Smith.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

Which is funny, because the cat-cow’s here in Crap Central with us, licking something off Carl’s boot.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of licking

Adverb

For example, because of their own home-buying timeline, a seller may need to close very quickly or may need more time than usual.

— Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
These songs are very evidently arranged, with ticklish, left-field grooves and tight pockets—never too tight for the persistent, puckish charm, the elbow-nudging glee.

— Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of very

Noun

Higher still, Kerr led me up a steep groove that demanded such vicious thrashing and groveling that my whole body hurt.

— Daniel Duane, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The world’s richest person, MAGA donor, chainsaw waver, baby daddy and would-be Mars colonizer takes a thrashing.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of thrashing

Verb

But Varma and Shivam Dube (27) upped the ante in the final three overs by smacking 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers, the analysis found.

— Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.

— Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lashing

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Style

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

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Synonyms of thumping

adverb

noun

verb

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