as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
zapped the annoying bug with a swatter
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Recent Examples of zap
That win came during a stretch when the Lakers had lost eight of 11 games, missed free throws, and tough shots from opposing teams and rough offensive nights had zapped their energy.
—
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
If the soil is dry, water plants so that frigid weather doesn't zap the foliage.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
The plot continues to wind chaotically through time and multiple planes of reality, as Maximus gets zapped back into the land of the living and is depicted battling in the Crusades, World Wars and Vietnam.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2024
The Free Press requested police reports associated with some of the logs, which described students in crisis subjected to grave consequences: handcuffed, zapped with a stun gun or in the back of a patrol car.
—Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zap 
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
If the soil is dry, water plants so that frigid weather doesn't zap the foliage.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
The plot continues to wind chaotically through time and multiple planes of reality, as Maximus gets zapped back into the land of the living and is depicted battling in the Crusades, World Wars and Vietnam.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2024
The Free Press requested police reports associated with some of the logs, which described students in crisis subjected to grave consequences: handcuffed, zapped with a stun gun or in the back of a patrol car.
—Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zap
Verb
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The Powerball jackpot has not been hit since Dec. 7, when a New York player won the $256 million grand prize, lottery officials said.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2025
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George Michael and Pop Smoke both hit No. 1 with albums titled Faith.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In the middle of one firefight, Lozano also got knocked senseless by the blast wave from a tank gun.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2025
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As of that date, an additional 30,000 MW of potential new loads had also come knocking at AEP’s door (a figure likely to be even larger today).—
Peter Kelly-Detwiler,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Reality has a way of smacking you hard in the face.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2025
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What hits on TikTok is a legible, irresistible hook — or, in other words, the kind of content that smacks you in the face with its obviousness.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vox,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With President-elect Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the stakes for Chinese exports are likely to be higher not just into the U.S., but into countries like Mexico, which is slapping tariffs of its own on goods like textiles.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Jan. 2025
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Canadian officials say that if Trump follows through with his threat of punishing tariffs, Canada would consider slapping retaliatory tariffs on American orange juice, toilets and some steel products.—
Jim Morris,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Her twin brother witnessed the attack and punched two men: the man who attacked his sister and Corrado.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
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Before the house was put on the market, the seller dutifully encased the existing stair in concrete so that the entrance was no longer accessible and punched a rudimentary new door on the ground floor.—
Julie Lasky,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When the bread banging is over, expect lots of crumbs on the ground, but do not despair.—
Catherine Garcia,
theweek,
30 Dec. 2024
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Two bodies banging against each other is great in real life, but in movies, sexuality is very much a suggestion.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Bipartisanship was in the air as a few Democrats joined all Republicans in clapping for the reading of Trump’s electoral votes, and Republicans, in turn, clapped politely for Harris’s votes as well.—
Rachel Schilke,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
6 Jan. 2025
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The camera switches back to the crowd and Neenah Nation is on their feet, clapping and smiling and having a helluva time.—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The funny thing when that CEO got whacked was watching CEOs have to be uncomfortable.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2025
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Once Sparano got whacked during the 2011 season, Ross gave former Titans coach Jeff Fisher the full-court press.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Zap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zap. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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