as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a quick spank to the child's bottom for disobedience
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of spank
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Monroe grabbed him, gave him a spank and sent him back on course.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2022
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
There have been concerns about Frances Tiafoe for a while now, ever since Ben Shelton spanked him in Arthur Ashe Stadium in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open last September.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for spank 
Noun
Inter Miami underlined its status as MLS favorites with a 5-0 home spank of rival Orlando City Saturday on two goals apiece from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, leaving the Herons unbeaten (two wins, one draw) in three games.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024
Monroe grabbed him, gave him a spank and sent him back on course.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2022
Verb
It’s all spanked along by one of those golly-gee bumptious holiday musical scores.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
There have been concerns about Frances Tiafoe for a while now, ever since Ben Shelton spanked him in Arthur Ashe Stadium in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open last September.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for spank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spank
Noun
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The fist pumps and slaps of the left thigh between points have fresh vigour.Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
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Understand where is fair game to hit, and where isn’t: Face slaps might look hot — and feel hot!Quispe López, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Reality has a way of smacking you hard in the face.Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
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What hits on TikTok is a legible, irresistible hook — or, in other words, the kind of content that smacks you in the face with its obviousness.Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Families fall asleep to the thump of nearby airstrikes and the constant whine of an Israeli drone overhead.Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
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The Vigor has flat seams and enough stretch to move comfortably while bending over or reaching up, while thump loops make for easy layering on frigid days.Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As of that date, an additional 30,000 MW of potential new loads had also come knocking at AEP’s door (a figure likely to be even larger today).Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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In the middle of one firefight, Lozano also got knocked senseless by the blast wave from a tank gun.Jon Hamilton, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Likewise, a surprise 25 basis point rate cut by the BOK at its November meeting, enacted before Yoon declared martial law in December, could have cushioned the blow.Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
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Initially, the potential loss of that would be a pretty big blow.Jason Parham, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When the bread banging is over, expect lots of crumbs on the ground, but do not despair.Catherine Garcia, theweek, 30 Dec. 2024
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Two bodies banging against each other is great in real life, but in movies, sexuality is very much a suggestion.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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When the pandemic hit, and parents couldn’t go to games, Irons started bringing the Plainfield Panthers to them.Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2025
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Shareholders burn Edison The stock price of Edison International - the utility’s parent company - has taken a hit since the onset of the fires.Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Elle was also seen whipping her hands in a circle to the music during the awards ceremony.Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
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That led to an argument, and Little allegedly whipped out a knife, stabbing the victim twice in the chest, police said.Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Spank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spank. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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