1
as in smacks
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she was so mad that she wanted to slap him right across the face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in insults
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
tired of jokes that slap people of faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
doctors used to give newborns a light slap to get them to start breathing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in sarcasms
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
that comment is a slap to anyone who has ever served in the military
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 slaps
Xitlalic Montelongo, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Think Nvidia’s new feature that slaps an AI filter onto your favorite games looks like garbage?
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
Nahill is even featured in a video, indulgently attempting to snack on a donut, before Tyson, now a de facto spokesperson for HHS’ healthy foods initiatives, slaps it out of his hand.
—Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 27 Feb. 2026
Is this violence different from the time in her childhood when Irene slaps her?
—CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025
Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway revealed that the moment Ike slaps Jackie came across so emotional and raw because the stunt went wrong.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
When a gecko slaps its foot on a wall, many of the branches push tightly against the surface.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The tarp slaps the frame of the truck’s roof.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
The Singers centers on an impromptu sing-off in a bar, whereas Two People Exchanging Saliva explores a society where kissing is punishable by death, and people pay for things by receiving slaps to the face.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
In this world, items are paid for by receiving slaps to the face.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Europe has long underspent on defense, and where American cajoling for decades had not worked, a few face slaps succeeded.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Expect the date nights to keep coming—Rocky’s album slaps, and the Rih-Rocky couples style moments match the vibe and more.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2026
The fans are behind Sark, but no amount of attaboys or back-slaps can replace being in the same place as national semifinalists Indiana, Ole Miss, Oregon and Miami.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
After exchanging some slaps in the ring, Vaquer gained the upper hand and hit another Devil's Kiss on Nikki before going to the corner for a corkscrew splash to grab the pinfall win.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
A couple of good back slaps and thumps from the adoring crowd.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Sporting a bright yellow raincoat and rainboots, Garcia pretends to be a journalist reporting on the storm in West Kendall as a palm tree leaf slaps her across the face.
—Xitlalic Montelongo, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Think Nvidia’s new feature that slaps an AI filter onto your favorite games looks like garbage?
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
Nahill is even featured in a video, indulgently attempting to snack on a donut, before Tyson, now a de facto spokesperson for HHS’ healthy foods initiatives, slaps it out of his hand.
—Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 27 Feb. 2026
Is this violence different from the time in her childhood when Irene slaps her?
—CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025
Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway revealed that the moment Ike slaps Jackie came across so emotional and raw because the stunt went wrong.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
When a gecko slaps its foot on a wall, many of the branches push tightly against the surface.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The tarp slaps the frame of the truck’s roof.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
Leonard extended his 20-point streak to 49 straight games with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, welcoming hand slaps from teammates after hitting his second 3-pointer late in the game.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
The Singers centers on an impromptu sing-off in a bar, whereas Two People Exchanging Saliva explores a society where kissing is punishable by death, and people pay for things by receiving slaps to the face.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
In this world, items are paid for by receiving slaps to the face.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Europe has long underspent on defense, and where American cajoling for decades had not worked, a few face slaps succeeded.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Expect the date nights to keep coming—Rocky’s album slaps, and the Rih-Rocky couples style moments match the vibe and more.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2026
The fans are behind Sark, but no amount of attaboys or back-slaps can replace being in the same place as national semifinalists Indiana, Ole Miss, Oregon and Miami.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
After exchanging some slaps in the ring, Vaquer gained the upper hand and hit another Devil's Kiss on Nikki before going to the corner for a corkscrew splash to grab the pinfall win.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
A couple of good back slaps and thumps from the adoring crowd.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slaps
Verb
-
Then reality smacks you in the face.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Squad' rep's felon husband smacks phone from reporter 3.—
,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the President insults allies, woos dictators, and spurns long-standing commitments, Rubio has to convince his counterparts that America will not entirely abandon its friends.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The paddling comes as revenge for multiple times Marty insults the businessman throughout the movie.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Shesterkin’s first thought was about how big the 6-foot-6 Markström was, but the smaller goalie still managed to land the majority of the blows.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Parks turned into deserts, great skyscrapers leveled by blows from the tails of the monsters, and the entire population threatened in the panic and pestilence that followed the invasion.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In the letter, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Hancock knocks Paxton for how his agency allowed a Houston Muslim school into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Obviously the blandness of a tan wall offends them.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
If that language offends you — come on.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At under $550, this tablet punches way above its weight!—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
What was the precise number of punches Brown dealt her?—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On a day when balls were not leaving the yard and hits to the warning track were rare, the Cubs still thrived.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Trash truck hits a resident’s vehicle – $47,000 The Board of Estimates approved a $47,000 settlement for Donald Stepp after a Department of Public Works trash truck struck his vehicle on Dundalk Avenue in February 2023.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slaps. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
