1
as in thud
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
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2
as in clap
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
as in to slap
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thwack
Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 6 July 2024
The movie’s silence is so loaded with the anxiety, obstinance, inchoate anger and desire for anonymity of the traumatized teenage sportswoman that the constant thwack of her racquet hitting the ball cuts through the tension like violent shocks.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2024
Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 8 Dec. 2023
The videos had been spliced into a mash-up and served to me on Instagram as a looping carousel of orange squares thwacking babies silly.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for thwack
Noun
Things fall almost eerily silent as players prepare to serve, and even then, the usual thwack of a tennis ball hitting the court is muffled by the grass.
—Ava Wallace, Washington Post, 6 July 2024
The movie’s silence is so loaded with the anxiety, obstinance, inchoate anger and desire for anonymity of the traumatized teenage sportswoman that the constant thwack of her racquet hitting the ball cuts through the tension like violent shocks.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2024
Verb
No more thwacking away at cold dough on your countertop.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 8 Dec. 2023
The videos had been spliced into a mash-up and served to me on Instagram as a looping carousel of orange squares thwacking babies silly.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for thwack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwack
Noun
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Even after a rigorous interview process and a seemingly perfect fit, the offer can land with a thud.—
Rebecca Skilbeck,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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But for some experts, the company’s claims are landing with a thud.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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JuJu Watkins, the star sophomore, stared blankly ahead, offering only a slow, deliberate clap.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2025
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Kansas City is also trying to set the world record for the largest collection of claps and is inviting all who visit to help be a part of it, Cocoran said.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The short answer: President Trump and his insistence on slapping tariffs on key trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
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But that all changed in December, when Trump first threatened to slap heavy tariffs on his northern neighbor.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Then the silence was broken by the loud thump of Olive’s .38/40.—
Horace R. Hinkley,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2025
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This, more than any textured thumps, added to the immersiveness.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Taylor Swift has her blond bangs—sometimes middle-parted, sometimes swept to the side, but always present.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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While getting the most bang for the buck can be a compelling goal, Stryker recommends homeowners consider something else.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Jordan Hicks pitched an efficient five-plus innings, Tyler Fitzgerald smacked a two-run homer and scored a run, and the Giants beat the Tigers, 4-3.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
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In actuality, everything — unbeknownst to him — was ridiculously staged in a pitch-perfect reality TV parody, as comedy improv actors like David Hornsby and pre-Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig would put Gould smack dab in the middle of absurd situation after absurd situation.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The library now needs to build out the new Canadian entrance to code — a blow to a not-for-profit organization that has existed on a limited endowment since 1908.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2025
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New York City's drinking water could eventually absorb a blow if reservoirs supplying a portion of it become vacated due to rising salinity, according to a new report.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Yet the first few weeks of Trump’s second term have been a far cry from the pro-business boom investors expected when he was reelected in November.—
John Towfighi,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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The construction boom that accompanied China's rapid economic rise sparked a wave of large-scale residential and commercial projects across the country.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thwack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwack. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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