Thesaurus results for ZAPPING

zapping

verb

present participle of zap

as in hitting

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner zapped the annoying bug with a swatter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 zapping The clicking was from our electric fence, which was always zapping some errant grass, a misbehaving sheep, or a horny bull. — Chris Lee, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026 No one seems happy to still be zapping themselves with electrodes. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 These 15 recipes are a major step up from zapping a bag of frozen broccoli. — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026 Scientists have been zapping brains to alleviate depression for decades through a method called transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026 Lasers that focus on zapping drones out of the sky. — Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026 Porzingis was limited to 42 games a year ago for the Boston Celtics in part because of an energy-zapping illness. — Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026 Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) lauded for its exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties, has long been the MVP of breakout control, but today’s best salicylic acid serums go well beyond zapping zits. — Sarah Han, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026 Even with Slack zapping the number of emails sent, most people still waste so much time sifting through their inboxes. — semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for zapping

Verb

Cook will be remembered for making the iPhone feel essential to everything from buying a coffee to listening to music, hitting the gym or paying a credit card bill.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Crow-Armstrong’s 38 blasts are tied with Kyle Schwarber (2019) for second-most by a left-handed-hitting Cub.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Already, Skubal’s joining in on pregame handshake lines and slapping the dugout railing in time to Roki Sasaki’s warm-up music.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

And the defense module can neutralize them via electronics-frying HPM emissions, knocking satellites out without creating a cloud of space debris.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
For Lynn Parsons, knocking on a stranger’s door once made the difference between getting home and watching her car get towed away.

— Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

In the film, ex-girlfriend Jill Jones reportedly accused Prince of repeatedly punching her in 1984.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
One recent City Series game at Wrigley also had three arrests and included viral brawl that many Cubs fans blamed on Sox fans, though video showed a guy in a Cubs jersey was punching a guy in a Cubs jersey as well.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of punching

Verb

Meanwhile, Talarico is barnstorming the state, slamming Republicans mostly on kitchen table issues like stubborn inflation and the price of gas that has skyrocketed due to Trump’s war with Iran.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
There was little time for anyone to flee as flash floods decimated villages, slamming into houses, roads, bridges and power plants.

— Megan De Mar, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

There are frightening stories of swordfish charging boats, and even spearing their transoms and whacking propellers.

— Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
Yes, there were moments of humor, such as getting magic potions around the campfire at the end of each stage by whacking helpless little elves, but most of it was played straight, to great effect.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of whacking

Browse Nearby Words

zapped

zapping

zaps

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Zapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zapping. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of zapping

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

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

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes