thwacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of thwack
1
as in thuds
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument he gave the ball a hard thwack with the bat and sent it deep into the outfield

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in claps
a loud explosive sound even from the top of the bleachers we could hear the loud thwack of the ball being hit

Synonyms & Similar Words

thwacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of thwack
as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner thwacked the growling dog on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper

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 thwacks
Noun
At last week’s class, high-fives and hair-styling tips were generously distributed between thwacks of tennis balls. — Lynda Lin Grigsby, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Verb
Morrison Strikes the Student, Too A few moments later, Morrison thwacks the boy in the center with a footlong plastic cylinder. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 24 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwacks
  1. thuds
  2. claps
  3. slaps
  4. thumps
  5. bangs
  6. knocks
  7. blows
  8. booms
Noun
  • Rapp, up on Taft Point, heard two thuds.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Likewise, the score by Tony Doogan leans too heavily on generic electronic thuds, the kind that segue into a commercial break cliffhanger and an ad for blood pressure medicine.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of thuds
Noun
  • The entire gymnasium roared with claps and cheers, the loudest and most fervent applause of the evening.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Golf Channel would always be playing in the background; the soft claps were the soundtrack to our slow Saturdays.
    — Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of claps
Verb
  • As the child puts his hands up, Bible says Campbell slaps them away, then drags him off the field.
    — Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Nothing slaps like the original, but the upcoming reboot looks kinda cool.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of slaps
Noun
  • The lower-vocal harmony struggles to stand out any time the deeper bass thumps.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Definition of thumps
Noun
  • In fact, one of the models wore her bangs to a movie premiere in the weeks following the show.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Overall, the biggest trends came up again and again, though, from no-rules red nails to big time bangs.
    — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of bangs
Verb
  • After the tempting offer, Pryce knocks on Clark’s door to see the ambitious former player wearing under-eye masks, agreeing to his proposition.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The flash lasts only a fraction of a picosecond, and the beam knocks individual atoms out of place.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocks
Noun
  • Ditka and Ryan had an often adversarial relationship, with the two nearly coming to blows during halftime of the team's only 1985 season loss, to the Miami Dolphins.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Even with a human controlling the machine remotely, LaPenna was still trading blows with a heavy metal robot capable of putting real force behind its movements.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of blows
Noun
  • In contrast to previous technology booms, this time around there appears to be a stronger expectation that wealth should be accompanied by responsibility.
    — Joe Crome, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The forecasts promised clear skies and cool air as a respite from another night of sirens, booms and ballistic missile strikes.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of booms

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Cite this Entry

“Thwacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwacks. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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