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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Relevance
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rap
Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025
For many years, the term Afrobeats, referring to a West African pop style that integrates dancehall, rap, and R. & B. with traditional African rhythms, was controversial, rejected by some artists for being overly broad.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Air Mail, 19 Apr. 2025
Wayne burrows his face into the arm of an accent chair while laughing about unknowingly rapping along to a Drake diss track.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
While the swimwear used to have a bad rap, new cuts and colors are changing the tide—the glow-up is real.
—Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025
For many years, the term Afrobeats, referring to a West African pop style that integrates dancehall, rap, and R. & B. with traditional African rhythms, was controversial, rejected by some artists for being overly broad.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Police extracted dozens of audio clips from the device, most of Smith ranting about government conspiracies and rapping to the beat in his head.
—Air Mail, 19 Apr. 2025
Wayne burrows his face into the arm of an accent chair while laughing about unknowingly rapping along to a Drake diss track.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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