slap 1 of 2

verb

ˈslap How to pronounce slap (audio)
Definition of slapnext
1
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner she was so mad that she wanted to slap him right across the face

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2
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in tired of jokes that slap people of faith

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slap

2 of 2

noun

1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument doctors used to give newborns a light slap to get them to start breathing

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2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings that comment is a slap to anyone who has ever served in the military

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 slap
Verb
Hochman said the nannies were caught on video spanking, slapping or hitting the children. — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Residents have reported paying excessive amounts to retrieve their vehicles from tow yards, with companies sometimes slapping extra fees on drivers who contact the police, according to council members. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
Hundreds of those grants were later reinstated when a federal judge ruled that the slap-dash nature of the terminations violated the Administrative Procedures Act, which regulates how agencies are supposed to change policies. — Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Sep. 2026 Power, in-your-face attitude, and urgency are what make half of the Pretenders’ still-extraordinary 1978 debut slap. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap
  1. smack
  2. insult
  3. blow
  4. sarcasm
  5. hit
  6. offend
  7. thump
  8. punch
Verb
  • Eventually, Bird’s film — with a script co-written by Matthew Robbins — gets to the meat of the action when Venus’ extremely complicated life runs smack into Ray and his knack for sniffing out bad guys.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Eagles also have been smacked with injuries and played without several key starters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of smack
Verb
  • Respect for people, respect for property, and therefore a commitment not to insult or destroy.
    — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Morgan is insulted, and the scene takes a turn for the cliché.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The pro-Western opposition parties won big Saturday in the Czech Republic’s vote to fill one-third of the seats in Parliament’s upper house, the Senate, handing a blow to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • There’s a hint of sarcasm in that statement, but also a dose of reality.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Returning the sarcasm tends to cause the same problem, with two people annoyed instead of one.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sarcasm
Verb
  • Prosecutors said Wilcox was hit by gunfire, fell to the ground and fired three more gunshots at the officers.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The different program sales operations of Skydance hit the Côte d’Azur under their pre-existing Paramount and WB brands.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • What that means is that drone hunter just locked on to the offending drone.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The Brewers should be offended at the premise behind the owners’ push for a salary cap.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of offend
Noun
  • But the knock on them has been the lack of thump in their lineup.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The brutalist thump of drummer Moe Tucker renders the showmen in Led Zeppelin and the Who irrelevant.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson’s suspension for punching a Buffalo Bills player after a game has been reduced from two games to one, an NFL spokesman said Wednesday.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • For Lee, the true measure of a man is how many other men, and women, want to punch his lights out.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of punch

Phrases Containing slap

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slanty
slap
slapdash
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Cite this Entry

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

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