To wallop means to hit something with great force. When a baseball player wallops the ball, it rockets over the fence for a home run. When ocean waves wallop against the shore during a storm, they crash down with tremendous power.

The word captures both the action and the satisfying thwack or boom that comes with it. If your older brother wallops you with a pillow during a pillow fight, you definitely feel it (even if it doesn't hurt). A boxer might wallop an opponent with a powerful punch. A chef might wallop a piece of meat with a tenderizing mallet.

Wallop can also mean to defeat someone decisively. If your soccer team wallops the other team 7-0, you didn't just win: you dominated completely. This usage emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the victory, like the force behind a powerful hit.

The word brings energy and impact with it. You wouldn't say someone gently walloped something, that would be contradictory. When you wallop, you're putting real force behind it, whether you're walloping a baseball, walloping in a competition, or getting walloped by an unexpected rainstorm.