as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
an overhead branch suddenly fell and bonked him on the head
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bonk
In other words, she got bonked on the head and now is the Terminator.
—
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Perkins may attempt comedy, but his jokes land like a Nerf missile bonking your head.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025
Stelton wrote that the short-term chance of an eruption is akin to the probability of getting bonked in the head by a baseball — while standing outside a major league stadium.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025
An argument ensues between two of the officials that ends when the not-quite-dead man gets bonked on the head with a mace.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 17 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bonk
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Perkins may attempt comedy, but his jokes land like a Nerf missile bonking your head.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025
Stelton wrote that the short-term chance of an eruption is akin to the probability of getting bonked in the head by a baseball — while standing outside a major league stadium.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025
An argument ensues between two of the officials that ends when the not-quite-dead man gets bonked on the head with a mace.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 17 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonk
Verb
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Citing preliminary information, police said the driver turned north from Bovet Road onto South El Camino and hit the pedestrian in the north crosswalk of South El Camino Real at 17th Avenue.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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The Torreys hit just one of eight shots in the quarter and committed five turnovers, most of them against Parker’s full-court press.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stiddy is the guy who throws no-look passes in practice and talks smack to the starting defense.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
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Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.—
Tim Sullivan,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Five players were booked during their defeat to Cameroon, including Foster, who slapped the linesman’s hand twice and screamed in his face in frustration over a decision.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Three weeks after the beating, the FBI tracked Fakroune to an apartment in New York and knocked on the door.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Production may dip slightly in winter, but South Florida’s short stretches of sweatshirt weather aren’t enough to knock populations back significantly.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Combined with the swiveling dining table, the setup allows several digital nomads to comfortably clack away on their keyboards at the same time – no banging elbows or rubbing knees.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Jan. 2026
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The float at the front of the line featured Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy with Mickey waving the flag, Goofy banging a drum, and Donald on flute, a giant eagle looming over them from behind.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Joe Mazzulla tipped his cap to Patriots counterpart Mike Vrabel after New England punched its ticket to Super Bowl LX.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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For many, the surge in gold prices has punched a hole in their wedding budgets.—
Preeti Soni,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Rasmus Dahlin and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen weren’t on the same page playing a puck behind the net, and Mavrik Bourque whacked a rebound in with Dahlin as the closest Sabre in coverage.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
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Even where verification was mandated, such as in Taiwan and Singapore, Meta’s systems showed a whack-a-mole effect.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Every time a council member expressed disapproval of the recommendations or questioned the data, the supporters clapped.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Jan. 2026
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As Jenkins slowly stepped out wearing an off-the-shoulder gown from Lillian Ruth Bride, custom-altered by Jordyn White and styled by Nupt Styling, everyone gasped and clapped.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonk. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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