zaps

verb

present tense third-person singular of zap
as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner zapped the annoying bug with a swatter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 zaps The top spray instantly zaps away high temperatures, while forced convection in the lower puddle continuously draws away residual heat. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026 Poopies tries to shave his face as Knoxville zaps him, and later, Steve-O struggles to tattoo a smiley face onto Holmes' nipple as he gets repeatedly buzzed. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 Paradise playing coy with details on Samantha’s plan or how ALEX can be used to save the world plays up the mystery, but this lack of information regarding her thought process zaps the moment of emotion and tension. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026 Known only as The Man from the Future, Rockwell's character zaps back from the future and lands in a Norms diner, looking to assemble a dream team to stop the AI apocalypse. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026 To record information, a laser zaps data into precise depths of the glass using a series of energy pulses that each last for about one quadrillionth of a second. — Damien Pine, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2026 In the Boston area, a train with lasers mounted in front zaps the rails to deal with leaf slurry that creates an oil slick. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 This is especially vital as Mars in your 4th House of Memory zaps Chiron in your sociable 7th house. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026 Ace zaps back, letting loose a laugh punctuated with manic handclaps. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zaps
  1. slaps
  2. knocks
  3. hits
  4. smacks
  5. slams
  6. punches
  7. claps
  8. whacks
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
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
Verb
  • This hits me personally because my brother, Rescue 5 firefighter Allan Tarasiewicz, was killed that day saving people when the North Tower fell on him, all because of Bin Laden and money from Saudi Arabia.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Skies are expected to remain partly sunny Thursday as the chance of precipitation hits and sticks around through the night, NWS states.
    — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of hits
Verb
  • The teriyaki aroma from the wings was almost strong enough to taste, and the flavor smacks you in the face from the first bite.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • An attack rears its ugly head, and the security team smacks it down.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of smacks
Verb
  • Or father, for that matter, especially after Sebastiano repeatedly slams his son’s head against a sink.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This is happening as a demographic shift to an older, grayer population slams Colorado.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of slams
Verb
  • And if the pizza isn’t enticing enough, Urban Cowboy’s cocktail program punches far above its weight class.
    — Beth Rankin, Denver Post, 27 July 2026
  • As the officer is pinned down, one person repeatedly punches her in the head while another appears to strike her with an unidentified object before a second officer intervenes.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of punches
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
Definition of claps
Verb
  • With runners on the corners, Martinez whacks a two-run, RBI double to tie it at five.
    — Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Then little Holly Wheeler and her 10-year-old friends, including the Season 5 favorite Derek (Jake Connelly), all swarm into the basement and take over the D&D table in a passing of the torch that basically whacks the audience over our collective heads.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Definition of whacks

Browse Nearby Words

zapping
zaps
zeal
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Cite this Entry

“Zaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zaps. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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