1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
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2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
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3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
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as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
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as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
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1
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
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2
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
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as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in to entrance
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
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Examples of rap in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
Combs and his production team, the Hitmen, were masters at blending rap with R&B hooks and splashy samples, creating the sound largely associated with ’90s cool.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Mabu grew up on Manhattan’s Gold Coast, but raps NYC drill tunes about drive-bys.
—Heshel Rolnick, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rap 
Noun
Footage from the early days of her rap aspirations show her mother, who was also her manager, coaching Megan on the right way to punctuate certain words in her rhymes and shooting ad hoc music videos from lascivious angles.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
Combs and his production team, the Hitmen, were masters at blending rap with R&B hooks and splashy samples, creating the sound largely associated with ’90s cool.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Being put 'on notice' is akin to being 'rapped on the knuckles', as described by a veteran administrator.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Mabu grew up on Manhattan’s Gold Coast, but raps NYC drill tunes about drive-bys.
—Heshel Rolnick, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rap
Thesaurus Entries Near rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
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