clapped back; clapping back; claps back
US, informal
: to respond quickly and sharply to criticism
A lot of times when someone says something nasty to you online, your gut reaction is to clap back right away. It's always good to take a cooling-off period—I recommend sleeping on it.—
Patrick Crowley
Patrick CrowleyThis week, Mandy Moore clapped back at haters on Instagram after people accused her of Photoshopping her social media photos … "I am 5'10 and a size 6. I have NEVER photoshopped pictures … That's not what I'm about. If you're going to be rude about people's bodies, go elsewhere."—Kitty Lindsay
Kitty Lindsay
clap·back
ˈklap-ˌbak 
variants
or less commonly clap back
plural clapbacks also clap backs
US, informal
: a quick, sharp, and effective response to criticism
Not to be confused with a garden-variety diss, a clapback is deemed by most as a targeted, often viciously acute comeback intended to place someone in much-needed check.—Aaron Edwards and Ira Madison III
Aaron Edwards and Ira Madison IIIWe all love a good clapback. It's a comeback but with that extra oomph.—Mathew Rodriguez
Mathew RodriguezThe art of the clap back is a study in discernment, wit, and instinct, which is why it should come as no surprise that Rihanna, Internet queen, is the reigning champ of shutting down the haters.—Cady Lang
Cady LangExamples of clap back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebCaitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 25 June 2024
The New Jersey rep also chided the OVO leader for having romantic relationships with younger women, assertions that Drake took issue with, clapping back at Budden, both publicly and privately.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 June 2024
TikTok has already clapped back and has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals to dismantle the legislation.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 18 June 2024
Wilking will post an update, then Derrick will clap back.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 12 June 2024
From Adele clapping back at a homophobic audience member to Kehlani turning Weho Pride into a pro-Palestine march, celebs around the world were out here making pride political.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 June 2024
Literally, so out of touch that even the Benedictine nuns clapped back, pointing out that lots of women — including nuns — happily and successfully contribute to the world.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
The video also playfully clapped back at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who went viral for his misogynistic comments during his commencement speech at Benedictine College in Kansas Saturday (May 11).
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 16 May 2024
The home crowd gleefully booed Soto over the last two games of the series, while the many Yankees fans in Camden Yards clapped back in his favor.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2024
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
The clapback from activist conservative judges and the financial service industry has been constant and severe.
—Pablo Manríquez, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2023
This song is exactly what the title suggests: a sassy clapback to the haters with narcissism woven into every lyric.
—Louis Staples, Vulture, 23 June 2022
Never one to shy away from a clapback, Madonna first posted a lengthy Instagram caption on February 7 that lambasted the ageism and sexism at the root of the comments.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2023
Kahmora is quick with a clapback, and served up some quite memorable confessional moments.
—Paul McCallion, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2021
The designation, created by trans advocate Rachel Crandall of Transgender Michigan in 2010, started as a clapback to the limited coverage of trans people in media, and stories that were wholly focused on the violence trans people faced.
—Allison Hope, CNN, 31 Mar. 2023
Green quickly responded with an epic clapback.
—oregonlive, 9 June 2022
Look no further than Trump’s own response to DeSantis’s gentle clapback.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2023
Verb
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl took an apparent jab at Taylor Swift during his band's London tour stop this week – and now Swift, who was also in the city for her own tour, is seemingly clapping back.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 25 June 2024
The New Jersey rep also chided the OVO leader for having romantic relationships with younger women, assertions that Drake took issue with, clapping back at Budden, both publicly and privately.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 June 2024
TikTok has already clapped back and has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals to dismantle the legislation.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 18 June 2024
Wilking will post an update, then Derrick will clap back.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 12 June 2024
From Adele clapping back at a homophobic audience member to Kehlani turning Weho Pride into a pro-Palestine march, celebs around the world were out here making pride political.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 June 2024
Literally, so out of touch that even the Benedictine nuns clapped back, pointing out that lots of women — including nuns — happily and successfully contribute to the world.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
The video also playfully clapped back at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who went viral for his misogynistic comments during his commencement speech at Benedictine College in Kansas Saturday (May 11).
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 16 May 2024
The home crowd gleefully booed Soto over the last two games of the series, while the many Yankees fans in Camden Yards clapped back in his favor.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2024
Noun
The clapback was swift, particularly from media outlets in Boston.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
The clapback from activist conservative judges and the financial service industry has been constant and severe.
—Pablo Manríquez, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2023
This song is exactly what the title suggests: a sassy clapback to the haters with narcissism woven into every lyric.
—Louis Staples, Vulture, 23 June 2022
Never one to shy away from a clapback, Madonna first posted a lengthy Instagram caption on February 7 that lambasted the ageism and sexism at the root of the comments.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2023
Kahmora is quick with a clapback, and served up some quite memorable confessional moments.
—Paul McCallion, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2021
The designation, created by trans advocate Rachel Crandall of Transgender Michigan in 2010, started as a clapback to the limited coverage of trans people in media, and stories that were wholly focused on the violence trans people faced.
—Allison Hope, CNN, 31 Mar. 2023
Green quickly responded with an epic clapback.
—oregonlive, 9 June 2022
Look no further than Trump’s own response to DeSantis’s gentle clapback.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clap back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clap back
Cite this Entry
“Clap back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clap%20back. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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