1
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person
the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap
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Relevance
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes
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3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
after our pickup softball game, I had a friendly rap with a couple of the guys in the park
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as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket
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1
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a childhood memory of the time he got his knuckles rapped for trying to steal candy from the corner store
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2
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
the impatient man was rapping his knuckles on the door, hoping to wake up the sleeping attendant
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as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball
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1
as in to entrance
to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio
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2
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rap
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
This year, Lamar, emerging victorious from a rap war with Drake, delivered a historic Super Bowl halftime performance, swept the Grammys with his chart-topping diss track, won Album of the Year at the BET Awards, and embarked on a National Tour with SZA packed with star power.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 1 July 2025
Just rapping their lives — very impressively — atop nearly as accomplished production.
—Peter A. Berry, Variety, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Noun
Some people still think that the Black community is getting a bad rap, and that they’re being picked on and are not being supported.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
This year, Lamar, emerging victorious from a rap war with Drake, delivered a historic Super Bowl halftime performance, swept the Grammys with his chart-topping diss track, won Album of the Year at the BET Awards, and embarked on a National Tour with SZA packed with star power.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025
Verb
Although the project is pop-leaning, the publication points out that there’s plenty of rapping from Doja across Vie.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 1 July 2025
Just rapping their lives — very impressively — atop nearly as accomplished production.
—Peter A. Berry, Variety, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rap
Cite this Entry
“Rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rap. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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