THUDDING Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

thudding

verb

present participle of thud

as in bumping

to come into usually forceful contact with something the snowball thudded against the side of my car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 thudding Running backs earn trust not just through their burst past thudding defenders in no-tackle practices, but especially through their pass-protection ability and receiver capabilities. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 July 2026 But the data center surge could come to a sudden, thudding halt if those big companies do not soon see a return on their investment. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 2 July 2026 This music is often so simplistic—tenth-grade emo-thirst-trap-core with yearning synths, thudding drums, and maybe a lick of guitar—that a machine could do it too. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 Some place where the days were days and the nights fell with thudding certainty. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 My heart begins thudding in time with her step. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 9 June 2026 The mantra is set against the kind of thudding club beat that defined the earliest phases of her career. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026 Each must traverse more than a mile-and-a-half of terrain, through a canyon, into shadows and out, over rolls that hurl the body half a football field through the air before thudding it back down again. — Barry Svrluga, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2026 The latest version kicks off with a moody set piece before a gun shot and thudding drums make way for a beat that sounds like a drowning beeper. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thudding

Verb

And for everyone in the F1 paddock, there is now additional clarity on plans for the second half of the season heading into the summer break, while bumping the calendar back up to a provisional 23 races.

— Luke Smith, New York Times, 26 July 2026
This can sometimes work against you, though, since bumping the front of the laptop can register as an input.

— John Loeffler, PC Magazine, 20 July 2026

Definition of bumping

Verb

But according to rocket scientists at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), slamming a nuclear warhead directly into the side of a space rock is a rookie mistake.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Charlotte faced off with Lash Legend, and Lash got the better of Charlotte by slamming her on a ladder.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

The main way that happens is by colliding electrons and their antimatter partners, positrons.

— Matt von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 29 July 2026
The storms are the result of cold air colliding with temperatures in the mid 90s, and a heat index of 106 degrees, forecasters say.

— Mark Price July 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2026

Definition of colliding

Verb

Morton kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often and smashing fruit with a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula, until plums are broken up and mixture thickens to a jammy consistency, 10–15 minutes.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
Beyond Medic's smashing victory in the main event, a few fighters made significant statements.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of smashing

Verb

Roughly a week and a half on from the end of one of the best ever World Cups, news has dropped that bring FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino – fresh off their massive win in North America – crashing back down to Earth.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
The backstory for his character was an undead electronic music producer who came back from crashing his Ferrari in order to keep making sick beats.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 29 July 2026

Definition of crashing

Verb

Snap a few photos before your guide for the day, Clint Holland, comes knocking.

— Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Cooper was accused of sending 20 messages and making two unanswered phone calls to his girlfriend before going to her apartment and knocking on her door, according to the arrest affidavit.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of knocking

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thudded

thudding

thuds

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Style

“Thudding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thudding. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of thudding

verb

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