POPPED Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

popped

verb

past tense of pop

as in exploded

to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure a balloon popped suddenly and startled us all

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in snapped

to break suddenly with an explosive sound the last strand popped, causing the chandelier to drop to the floor with a great crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in shattered

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive popping popcorn over a campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drilled

to strike with a missile from a gun went into the woods hoping to pop the rabbit that was eating our vegetables

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 popped The $11 million spread is listed with Wade Weathers and Meg Kauffman at LandVest Christie’s International Real Estate and has come to market shortly after Vermont’s most expensive home popped up for sale. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026 Kyle Tucker popped up to center, and Teoscar Hernandez struck out on a ball off the plate by about two and a half feet. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Experience with Schottenheimer and Parker The relationship with Pettine extends far beyond the last few weeks — or even May when Pettine popped through the facility to watch OTA practices. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 But Antetokounmpo popped up quick, taking the ensuing two free throws and remaining in the game. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 Walmart — Shares of the retailer popped more than 2% after Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to buy from hold, citing a positive outlook for 2027. — Ananya Chetia,darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Their mother, Janet, heard their laughter and popped into the room—the downstairs den, refitted with a hospital bed—and asked what was so funny. — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 The same issues that popped while dealing with so many injuries last season have persisted despite San Francisco making additions to the defensive line in Osa Odighizuwa and fourth-round draft pick Gracen Halton. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Without Andy Pages, the Dodgers wouldn’t have popped champagne in the Truist Park visiting clubhouse Wednesday night. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for popped

Verb

That's because after World War II, as suburbs exploded, cities across the country mandated bigger and bigger lot sizes for single-family homes only.

— Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026
Stafford did just that, using his star receiver Puka Nacua, who exploded for 17 catches on 25 targets for 138 yards and a touchdown, to get into field goal range for kicker Harrison Mevis to try a 48-yard field goal for the win.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of exploded

Verb

There were big things in antiquity—the pyramids of Egypt and Mexico; the Colossus of Rhodes, which stood at two thirds the height of the Statue of Liberty until an earthquake snapped it at the knees in 226 BCE—but there weren’t many of them.

— Bill McKibben, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
New York's Alexis Lafrenière had a six-game point streak snapped.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of snapped

Verb

Multiple temperature records have been shattered, and an intense marine heat wave has been churning since last December — making our typical high tides even higher — El Niño notwithstanding.

— Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Business damaged by gunfire A bullet shattered the window of Tikal Cocina Café during the shooting.

— Janay Reece, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of shattered

Verb

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz drilled a 53-yard field goal in overtime to elevate Denver to a 17-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Just two years ago, in 2024, Schmidt and the Trades Council were on opposite sides of a different ballot measure proposal — one over an oil industry effort to repeal a law banning oil and gas wells from being drilled too close to parks and schools.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of drilled

Verb

An unexploded munition detonated during a school trip along Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Monday, killing a teenage boy and injuring 24 others, Israeli authorities and rescue workers said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Oct. 2026
In one of the recent demonstrations in the town of Lens on Monday, a 15-year-old had picked up a police dispersal grenade that detonated, losing his hand and part of his lower arm, officials said.

— Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of detonated

Verb

Protesters have hurled rocks at police, burned government buildings, smashed shop windows and destroyed private property.

— Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Carl Court / Getty In cities across the country, demonstrators set fire to newsstands and smashed windows.

— Max Butterworth, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of smashed

Verb

Each console was tested in the device's performance mode while plugged directly into power, with the only difference being the resolution.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
The roommate then plugged the camera in and saw several videos of Long inside the bedroom testing out the device, according to the report.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of plugged

Verb

But head coach Ben Johnson isn't going to be happy that his team nearly blew a 24-point lead with just over 12 minutes to go.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
On Saturday morning, temperatures in the fire area were in the mid-80s and winds blew at about 15 mph.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of blew

Browse Nearby Words

pop off

popped

popped (in)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Popped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/popped. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of popped

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes