Thesaurus results for CLAPS

claps 1 of 2

noun

plural of clap

as in bangs

a loud explosive sound a clap of thunder that woke the whole house up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in thumps

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument a sharp clap to the head of the disrespectful youth

Synonyms & Similar Words

claps

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of clap

as in slaps

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner clapped him on the back as a friendly gesture

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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 claps

Noun

The Golf Channel would always be playing in the background; the soft claps were the soundtrack to our slow Saturdays. — Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 One of the moments in the musical that caused the most laughter and claps from the audience was the final song, which mocks the idea of using violence as a form of protest rather than joining a movement or focusing on policy. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026 There were the polite claps after good attacks by the Swiss, sarcastic whistles by the Qatari fans after their team again failed to mount a threat. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026 Other players, especially the younger players and newcomers, did head over toward La Familia and give them waves and claps. — Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 There was no standing ovation, only a few sporadic claps mixed in with folks cheering for Fitzpatrick. — Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026 That’ll be the stormiest period of the weekend, with gusts up to 40 mph and potentially more claps of thunder. — Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026 Tears flowed, and the audience held space for grief, offering supportive claps and chants. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2026 These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026

Verb

The hugs, smiles and claps around the FDJ Suez bus told a different story, however. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Claire Foy claps from the stands on Day 9 of Wimbledon in London on July 7. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 The crowd claps and cheers, screaming wildly when Buteau drops it rather politely before strutting with Peppermint to their seats on stage. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 Feint claps for the President could be heard on the ABC broadcast, but they were overwhelmed by the Bronx cheer. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 9 June 2026 Anderson stops at second base, claps his hands four times, then stands there quietly. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026 His climber fails to get Camper Kyle to the ground in time, but Bauer claps enthusiastically. — Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026 Poor Indigenous, Black, the people from the favelas, when the police go there and kill 120 people there, and the population basically claps and thinks that that’s great. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2025 Legacy is made from the small, repeatable disciplines no one claps for, but everyone benefits from. — Cody Bjugan, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for claps

Noun

No shoulder is unpadded, large crystals hang from delicate necks, and swooped bangs curtain women’s faces, held aloft by Farrah Fawcett-strength hairspray.

— Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Battered cars with numbers sprayed on their sides are whipping around the dirt track of the Lebanon Valley Speedway, loose fenders flopping like overgrown bangs in the swirling dust.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of bangs

Noun

Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.

— Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026

Definition of thumps

Verb

Helmut Haller, West Germany vs England, 1966 Ray Wilson misjudges his headed clearance, Haller gathers it on the edge of the box and, just before Bobby Moore can close him down, slaps a right-footed shot into the far corner.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Wilhelm enters the room, removes most of his clothing and gets into bed with her, slaps her, pushes her away and then caresses her face and cradles her.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Definition of slaps

Noun

Chip stocks, particularly those that specialize in memory, are notoriously cyclical, with regular booms and busts based on rising and falling demand.

— Ryan Vlastelica, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
But in the first decade of the new century, these two leaders oversaw recoveries, and then booms.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026

Definition of booms

Verb

For residents who didn’t respond to knocks on their doors, their bags were left for safekeeping with Mai Mei Su, the building’s residential manager.

— Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Max knocks on the door, a strange formality for a man about to burn the boat down to the waterline.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026

Definition of knocks

Noun

Neither of the two blasts Shearer experienced in Iraq produced obvious injuries, and medics prioritized Marines who were more badly hurt.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Taillon has coughed up 25 home runs in 15 starts this season, allowing five in his previous two starts, ceding at least one in 12 turns and permitting multiple blasts in eight starts.

— Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of blasts

Noun

The Raiders are off Sunday before returning Monday morning, so their starting quarterback and star pass rusher will compete against each other again, though, Kubiak hopes, without any punches.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
The welcoming rum punches were a nice introduction to the soft life that this resort offers you upon entry.

— Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 8 Aug. 2026