Rap — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Rap
Rap (noun)
- a sharp blow or knock
- a sharp rebuke or criticism
- a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge —often used with bum or bad
- a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration), the least bit
- talk, conversation; also, a line of talk, patter
- a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment —often used before another noun
- a rap song
Rap (verb)
- to strike with a sharp blow
- to utter suddenly and forcibly
- to cause to be or come by raps
- to snatch away or upward
- enrapture
- to talk freely and frankly
- to perform rap music
Rap (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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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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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"
similar: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whoprelated: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping -
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
"would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend"
related: blameworthiness, complicity, guiltiness, sinfulness, accusation, censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach, regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame -
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"
similar: backchat, cackle, causerie, chat, chatter, chin music, chin-wag (slang), chitchat, confab, confabulation, gab, gabfest, gossip, jangle, jaw, natter (chiefly British), palaver, patter, schmooze, small talk, table talk, talk, tête-à-têterelated: colloquy, conference, discourse, parley, symposium, debate, dialogue, exchange, give-and-take, cross talk, happy talk, yak, yammer, yap -
the smallest amount or part imaginable
"I don't care a rap about losing that old jacket"
Rap (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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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"
similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one onrelated: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull -
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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to engage in casual or rambling conversation
"the guys at the gym never seem to tire about rapping about basketball"
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to fill with overwhelming emotion (as wonder or delight)
"concertgoers were utterly rapped by the power of Handel's oratorio"
similar: carry away, enrapture, enthrall, entrance, rapture, ravish, transport, knock dead, knock one's socks off -
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
"suddenly the hawk swooped down and rapped the unwary rodent"
similar: bag, capture, catch, collar, cop (slang), corral, get, glom, grab, grapple, hook, land, nab, nail, net, nobble (British slang), seize, snag, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, take hold (of)related: glove, halter, lasso, rope, apprehend, arrest, detain, bay, corner, clasp, clutch, fasten (on), fist, grasp, grip, hold, latch (on or onto), secure, rend, wrest, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entrap, mesh, abduct, kidnap, spirit (away or off)opposite: miss
Related Entry: Beat (verb)
Beat is a different word from Rap. The synonyms below are for beat, not for rap.
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to strike repeatedly
"they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"
similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, beat up onrelated: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate -
to achieve a victory over
"she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"
similar: best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a looprelated: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcendopposite: lose (to) -
to be greater, better, or stronger than
"this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"
similar: better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outgun, outmatch, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, tower (over), transcend, go one better, run circles aroundrelated: one-up, outpace, outrace, outrun, overpass, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, outcompete, outperform, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), worst, outbalance, outweigh, overbear, overshadow, trumpnear: lose (to) -
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
"the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"
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to move or cause to move with a striking motion
"the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"
-
to prevent from achieving a goal
"you beat me to it"
related: bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop, avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent, negate, neutralize, nullify, counteract, offset, conquer, defeat, overcome -
to shape with a hammer
"the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"
-
to shine with a bright harsh light
"the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"
-
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
"beat the drum in a marching rhythm"
-
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
"it beats me how that slipup happened"
similar: addle, baffle, bamboozle, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's headrelated: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick -
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
"he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"
related: avoid, duck, elude, end-run, escape, eschew, evade, outflank, shake, shirk, shun, disobey, disregard, flout, ignore, avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off)near: accede (to), acquiesce (to), assent (to), accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome, catch, contract, incur -
to reduce to fine particles
"years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"
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to rob by the use of trickery or threats
"the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"
similar: bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hose (slang), hustle, mulct, nobble (British slang), pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners
Related Entry: Beaten (verb)
Beaten is a different word from Rap. The synonyms below are for beaten, not for rap.
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to strike repeatedly
"they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"
similar: bashed, basted, batted, battered, belabored, belted, birched, bludgeoned, buffeted, bunged up, clubbed, curried, done, drubbed, fibbed (British), flogged, hammered, hided, laced, lambasted, lashed, lathered, licked, mauled, messed (up), paddled, pelted, pommeled, pounded, pummeled, punched out, roughed (up), slated, slogged, switched, tanned, thrashed, threshed, thumped, tromped, walloped, whaled, whipped, whopped, whupped, worked over, beaten up onrelated: assailed, assaulted, attacked, beset, boxed, busted, chopped, clobbered, clouted, cracked, cudgeled, cuffed, descended (on or upon), hit, jumped (on), knocked, laid on, lammed, pasted, pounced (on or upon), punched, raided, rushed, slammed, slapped, smacked, smashed, socked, spanked, stormed, swatted, swiped, thwacked, whacked, whammed, whomped, blackjacked, caned, cowhided, flagellated, fustigated, horsewhipped, leathered, pistol-whipped, rawhided, scourged, strapped, gored, lacerated, wounded, maimed, mangled, mutilated -
to achieve a victory over
"she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"
similar: bested, conquered, defeated, dispatched, done down (British), got, got around, licked, mastered, overborne, overcome, overmatched, prevailed (over), skunked, stopped, subdued, surmounted, taken, trimmed, triumphed (over), upended, won (against), worsted, got the better of, knocked for a looprelated: swept, edged (out), nosed out, pipped (British), annihilated, blown away, blown out, bombed, broken, buried, clobbered, creamed, crushed, drubbed, finished, flattened, overwhelmed, routed, shellacked, skinned, slaughtered, smoked (slang), snowed under, thrashed, trounced, upset, walloped, waxed (slang), whipped, capped, excelled, flourished, scored, succeeded, knocked off, knocked over, overpowered, overthrown, subjugated, unseated, vanquished, aced (out), bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, outdistanced, outdone, outfought, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, transcendedopposite: lost (to)near: fallen, given up, gone down, gone under, collapsed, failed, flopped, flunked, folded, washed out -
to be greater, better, or stronger than
"this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"
similar: bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, excelled, outclassed, outdistanced, outdone, outgunned, outmatched, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, towered (over), transcended, gone one better, run circles aroundrelated: one-upped, outpaced, outraced, outrun, overpassed, bested, clobbered, conquered, crushed, defeated, drubbed, licked, mastered, outcompeted, outperformed, overcome, overmatched, prevailed (over), routed, shamed, skunked, subdued, surmounted, thrashed, trimmed, triumphed (over), trounced, walloped, whipped, won (against), worsted, outbalanced, outweighed, overborne, overshadowed, trumpednear: lost (to) -
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
"the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"
-
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
"the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"
-
to prevent from achieving a goal
"you beat me to it"
related: barred, blocked, clogged, encumbered, fettered, hampered, handicapped, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, inhibited, interfered (with), manacled, obstructed, shackled, tied up, trammeled, arrested, checked, halted, set back, short-circuited, stalled, stopped, averted, forestalled, obviated, precluded, prevented, negated, neutralized, nullified, counteracted, offset, conquered, defeated, overcome -
to shape with a hammer
"the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"
-
to shine with a bright harsh light
"the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"
-
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
"beat the drum in a marching rhythm"
-
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
"it beats me how that slipup happened"
similar: addled, baffled, bamboozled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, buffaloed, confounded, confused, discombobulated, disoriented, flummoxed, foxed, fuddled, got, graveled, mazed, muddied, muddled, mystified, perplexed, posed, puzzled, vexed, blown one's mind, gone to one's headrelated: stuck, stumped, weirded out, abashed, discomfited, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, fazed, flustered, mortified, nonplussed, rattled, agitated, bothered, chagrined, discomforted, discomposed, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, stunned, unhinged, unsettled, upset, beguiled, cozened, deceived, deluded, duped, fooled, gulled, hoaxed, hoodwinked, humbugged, misguided, misled, snowed, strung along, taken in, tricked -
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
"he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"
related: avoided, ducked, eluded, end-ran, escaped, eschewed, evaded, outflanked, shaken, shirked, shunned, disobeyed, disregarded, flouted, ignored, averted, deflected, diverted, obviated, parried, prevented, warded (off)near: acceded (to), acquiesced (to), assented (to), accepted, courted, embraced, pursued, sought, welcomed, caught, contracted, incurred -
to reduce to fine particles
"years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"
similar: atomized, brayed, comminuted, crushed, disintegrated, ground, milled, mulled, pounded, powdered, pulverizedrelated: grated, kibbled, crumbled, crunched, broken, busted, dashed, fractured, fragmented, shattered, smashed, splintered, micronized -
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
"the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"
similar: bilked, bled, cheated, chiseled, choused, conned, cozened, defrauded, diddled, done, done in, euchred, fiddled, fleeced, flimflammed, gaffed, hosed (slang), hustled, mulcted, nobbled (British slang), plucked, reamed, ripped off, rooked, screwed, shaken down, shortchanged, shorted, skinned, skunked, squeezed, stiffed, stuck, stung, suckered, swindled, thimblerigged, victimized, sold a bill of goods to, taken for a ride, taken to the cleanersrelated: extorted, wrenched, wrested, wrung, clipped, gouged, nicked, overcharged, soaked, exploited, milked, deceived, duped, fooled, gulled, tricked, roped (in), betrayed, bitched, double-crossed, bamboozled, fast-talked
Related Entry: Beats (verb)
Beats is a different word from Rap. The synonyms below are for beats, not for rap.
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to strike repeatedly
"they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"
similar: bashes, bastes, bats, batters, belabors, belts, birches, bludgeons, buffets, bungs up, clubs, curries, does, drubs, fibs (British), flogs, hammers, hides, laces, lambastes, lashes, lathers, licks, mauls, messes (up), paddles, pelts, pommels, pounds, pummels, punches out, roughs (up), slates, slogs, switches, tans, thrashes, threshes, thumps, tromps, wallops, whales, whips, whops, whups, works over, beats up onrelated: assails, assaults, attacks, besets, boxes, busts, chops, clobbers, clouts, cracks, cudgels, cuffs, descends (on or upon), hits, jumps (on), knocks, lams, lays on, pastes, pounces (on or upon), punches, raids, rushes, slams, slaps, smacks, smashes, socks, spanks, storms, swats, swipes, thwacks, whacks, whams, whomps, blackjacks, canes, cowhides, flagellates, fustigates, horsewhips, leathers, pistol-whips, rawhides, scourges, straps, gores, lacerates, wounds, maims, mangles, mutilates -
to achieve a victory over
"she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"
similar: bests, conquers, defeats, dispatches, does down (British), gets, gets around, licks, masters, overbears, overcomes, overmatches, prevails (over), skunks, stops, subdues, surmounts, takes, trims, triumphs (over), upends, wins (against), worsts, gets the better of, knocks for a looprelated: sweeps, edges (out), noses out, pips (British), annihilates, blows away, blows out, bombs, breaks, buries, clobbers, creams, crushes, drubs, finishes, flattens, overwhelms, routs, shellacs, skins, slaughters, smokes (slang), snows under, thrashes, trounces, upsets, wallops, waxes (slang), whips, caps, excels, flourishes, scores, succeeds, knocks off, knocks over, overpowers, overthrows, subjugates, unseats, vanquishes, aces (out), betters, eclipses, exceeds, outdistances, outdoes, outfights, outshines, outstrips, overtops, surpasses, tops, transcendsopposite: loses (to) -
to be greater, better, or stronger than
"this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"
similar: betters, eclipses, exceeds, excels, outclasses, outdistances, outdoes, outguns, outmatches, outshines, outstrips, overtops, surpasses, tops, towers (over), transcends, goes one better, runs circles aroundrelated: one-ups, outpaces, outraces, outruns, overpasses, bests, clobbers, conquers, crushes, defeats, drubs, licks, masters, outcompetes, outperforms, overcomes, overmatches, prevails (over), routs, shames, skunks, subdues, surmounts, thrashes, trims, triumphs (over), trounces, wallops, whips, wins (against), worsts, outbalances, outweighs, overbears, overshadows, trumpsnear: loses (to) -
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
"the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"
-
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
"the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"
-
to prevent from achieving a goal
"you beat me to it"
related: bars, blocks, clogs, encumbers, fetters, hampers, handicaps, hinders, hobbles, holds back, impedes, inhibits, interferes (with), manacles, obstructs, shackles, ties up, trammels, arrests, checks, halts, sets back, short-circuits, stalls, stops, averts, forestalls, obviates, precludes, prevents, negates, neutralizes, nullifies, counteracts, offsets, conquers, defeats, overcomes -
to shape with a hammer
"the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"
-
to shine with a bright harsh light
"the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"
-
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
"beat the drum in a marching rhythm"
-
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
"it beats me how that slipup happened"
similar: addles, baffles, bamboozles, befogs, befuddles, bemuses, bewilders, buffaloes, confounds, confuses, discombobulates, disorients, flummoxes, foxes, fuddles, gets, gravels, mazes, muddies, muddles, mystifies, perplexes, poses, puzzles, vexes, blows one's mind, goes to one's headrelated: sticks, stumps, weirds out, abashes, discomfits, disconcerts, discountenances, embarrasses, fazes, flusters, mortifies, nonpluses, rattles, agitates, bothers, chagrins, discomforts, discomposes, dismays, disquiets, distresses, disturbs, perturbs, stuns, unhinges, unsettles, upsets, beguiles, cozens, deceives, deludes, dupes, fools, gulls, hoaxes, hoodwinks, humbugs, misguides, misleads, snows, strings along, takes in, tricks -
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
"he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"
related: avoids, ducks, eludes, end-runs, escapes, eschews, evades, outflanks, shakes, shirks, shuns, disobeys, disregards, flouts, ignores, averts, deflects, diverts, obviates, parries, prevents, wards (off)near: accedes (to), acquiesces (to), assents (to), accepts, courts, embraces, pursues, seeks, welcomes, catches, contracts, incurs -
to reduce to fine particles
"years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"
similar: atomizes, brays, comminutes, crushes, disintegrates, grinds, mills, mulls, pounds, powders, pulverizes -
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
"the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"
similar: bilks, bleeds, cheats, chisels, chouses, cons, cozens, defrauds, diddles, does, does in, euchres, fiddles, fleeces, flimflams, gaffs, hoses (slang), hustles, mulcts, nobbles (British slang), plucks, reams, rips off, rooks, screws, shakes down, shortchanges, shorts, skins, skunks, squeezes, sticks, stiffs, stings, suckers, swindles, thimblerigs, victimizes, sells a bill of goods to, takes for a ride, takes to the cleanersrelated: extorts, wrenches, wrests, wrings, clips, gouges, nicks, overcharges, soaks, exploits, milks, deceives, dupes, fools, gulls, tricks, ropes (in), betrays, bitches, double-crosses, bamboozles, fast-talks
Related Entry: Beating (verb)
Beating is a different word from Rap. The synonyms below are for beating, not for rap.
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to strike repeatedly
"they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"
similar: bashing, basting, battering, batting, belaboring, belting, birching, bludgeoning, buffeting, bunging up, clubbing, currying, doing, drubbing, fibbing (British), flogging, hammering, hiding, lacing, lambasting, lashing, lathering, licking, mauling, messing (up), paddling, pelting, pommeling, pounding, pummeling, punching out, roughing (up), slating, slogging, switching, tanning, thrashing, threshing, thumping, tromping, walloping, whaling, whipping, whopping, whupping, working over, beating up onrelated: assailing, assaulting, attacking, besetting, boxing, busting, chopping, clobbering, clouting, cracking, cudgeling, cuffing, descending (on or upon), hitting, jumping (on), knocking, lamming, laying on, pasting, pouncing (on or upon), punching, raiding, rushing, slamming, slapping, smacking, smashing, socking, spanking, storming, swatting, swiping, thwacking, whacking, whamming, whomping, blackjacking, caning, cowhiding, flagellating, fustigating, horsewhipping, leathering, pistol-whipping, rawhiding, scourging, strapping, goring, lacerating, wounding, maiming, mangling, mutilating -
to achieve a victory over
"she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"
similar: besting, conquering, defeating, dispatching, doing down (British), getting, getting around, licking, mastering, overbearing, overcoming, overmatching, prevailing (over), skunking, stopping, subduing, surmounting, taking, trimming, triumphing (over), upending, winning (against), worsting, getting the better of, knocking for a looprelated: sweeping, edging (out), nosing out, pipping (British), annihilating, blowing away, blowing out, bombing, breaking, burying, clobbering, creaming, crushing, drubbing, finishing, flattening, overwhelming, routing, shellacking, skinning, slaughtering, smoking (slang), snowing under, thrashing, trouncing, upsetting, walloping, waxing (slang), whipping, capping, excelling, flourishing, scoring, succeeding, knocking off, knocking over, overpowering, overthrowing, subjugating, unseating, vanquishing, acing (out), bettering, eclipsing, exceeding, outdistancing, outdoing, outfighting, outshining, outstripping, overtopping, surpassing, topping, transcendingopposite: losing (to)near: falling, giving up, going down, going under, collapsing, failing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing out -
to be greater, better, or stronger than
"this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"
similar: bettering, eclipsing, exceeding, excelling, outclassing, outdistancing, outdoing, outgunning, outmatching, outshining, outstripping, overtopping, surpassing, topping, towering (over), transcending, going one better, running circles aroundrelated: one-upping, outpacing, outracing, outrunning, overpassing, besting, clobbering, conquering, crushing, defeating, drubbing, licking, mastering, outcompeting, outperforming, overcoming, overmatching, prevailing (over), routing, shaming, skunking, subduing, surmounting, thrashing, trimming, triumphing (over), trouncing, walloping, whipping, winning (against), worsting, outbalancing, outweighing, overbearing, overshadowing, trumpingnear: losing (to) -
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner
"the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"
-
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
"the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"
related: banging, battering, buffeting, knocking, pounding, smacking, spanking, thumping, flickering, flicking, flitting, fanning, oscillating, swaying, swinging, undulating, waving, palpitating, pulsing, throbbing -
to prevent from achieving a goal
"you beat me to it"
related: barring, blocking, clogging, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handicapping, hindering, hobbling, holding back, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, obstructing, shackling, trammeling, tying up, arresting, checking, halting, setting back, short-circuiting, stalling, stopping, averting, forestalling, obviating, precluding, preventing, negating, neutralizing, nullifying, counteracting, offsetting, conquering, defeating, overcomingopposite: advancing, cultivating, encouraging, forwarding, fostering, furthering, nurturing, promoting -
to shape with a hammer
"the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"
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to shine with a bright harsh light
"the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"
related: beaming, glowing, radiating, flashing, glancing, gleaming, glimmering, glinting, glistening, glistering, glittering, scintillating, shimmering, sparkling, twinkling, bedazzling, blinding, dazing, dazzling -
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
"beat the drum in a marching rhythm"
related: banging, bashing, batting, bonking, bopping, hammering, hitting, knocking, pasting, pounding, slamming, smacking, socking, striking, swatting, thudding, thumping, thwacking, walloping, whacking, chinking, clattering, clinking, pinging, patting, pit-a-patting, pitter-pattering, chucking, clapping, clicking, flicking, tipping -
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
"it beats me how that slipup happened"
similar: addling, baffling, bamboozling, befogging, befuddling, bemusing, bewildering, buffaloing, confounding, confusing, discombobulating, disorienting, flummoxing, foxing, fuddling, getting, graveling, mazing, muddling, muddying, mystifying, perplexing, posing, puzzling, vexing, blowing one's mind, going to one's headrelated: sticking, stumping, weirding out, abashing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discountenancing, embarrassing, fazing, flustering, mortifying, nonplussing, rattling, agitating, bothering, chagrining, discomforting, discomposing, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, stunning, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, beguiling, cozening, deceiving, deluding, duping, fooling, gulling, hoaxing, hoodwinking, humbugging, misguiding, misleading, snowing, stringing along, taking in, tricking -
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
"he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"
related: avoiding, ducking, eluding, end-running, escaping, eschewing, evading, outflanking, shaking, shirking, shunning, disobeying, disregarding, flouting, ignoring, averting, deflecting, diverting, obviating, parrying, preventing, warding (off) -
to reduce to fine particles
"years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"
similar: atomizing, braying, comminuting, crushing, disintegrating, grinding, milling, mulling, pounding, powdering, pulverizingrelated: grating, kibbling, crumbling, crunching, breaking, busting, dashing, fracturing, fragmenting, shattering, smashing, splintering, micronizing -
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
"the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"
similar: bilking, bleeding, cheating, chiseling, chousing, conning, cozening, defrauding, diddling, doing, doing in, euchring, fiddling, fleecing, flimflamming, gaffing, hosing (slang), hustling, mulcting, nobbling (British slang), plucking, reaming, ripping off, rooking, screwing, shaking down, shortchanging, shorting, skinning, skunking, squeezing, sticking, stiffing, stinging, suckering, swindling, thimblerigging, victimizing, selling a bill of goods to, taking for a ride, taking to the cleanersrelated: extorting, wrenching, wresting, wringing, clipping, gouging, nicking, overcharging, soaking, exploiting, milking, deceiving, duping, fooling, gulling, tricking, roping (in), betraying, bitching, double-crossing, bamboozling, fast-talking
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rap
The most common words with a similar meaning to Rap:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rap
Words with the opposite meaning of Rap:
Related Words for Rap
Near Antonyms of Rap
Word Forms of Rap
Origin & Etymology of Rap
Middle English rappe
First known use: 14th century
Words & Phrases Containing Rap
Frequently Asked Questions about Rap
What does "Rap" mean?
"Rap" means a sharp blow or knock. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a sharp blow or knock. It has 10 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Rap"?
Other words for "Rap" include charge, complaint, count, indictment, bang, bash, bat and beat. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rap" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Rap"?
There are 389 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rap". Common alternatives include charge, complaint, count, indictment, bang, bash, bat, beat, belt and biff.
What is a slang word for "Rap"?
Slang words for "Rap" include chin-wag, diddly, diddly-squat, squat, chin and cop.
What is the opposite of "Rap"?
Antonyms of "Rap" include blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence and miss. Near antonyms include discharge, free, liberate and release.
How do you use "Rap" in a sentence?
Examples of "Rap" in a sentence: "the headlines in the paper today are all about the mayor facing an embezzlement rap"; "the doctor used a little hammer to give me a rap on the knee to test my reflexes"; "would sooner take the rap for the missing money than tell on his friend".
Is "Rap" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Rap" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.
How do you pronounce "Rap"?
"Rap" is pronounced /ˈrap/.