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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bonk
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
In a split second, Jaden decided to one-up Carolyn’s cruelty and bonked her in the head repeatedly with the fire poker.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 July 2024
That pickleball game on the driveway was pure pandemonium, and Joan almost got bonked in the face with a ball.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Miss Manners cannot entirely guarantee, however, that your finger will not bonk your nose instead — particularly after the second or third old-fashioned.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bonk
David Plazas, The Tennessean, 17 Apr. 2024
In a split second, Jaden decided to one-up Carolyn’s cruelty and bonked her in the head repeatedly with the fire poker.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 July 2024
That pickleball game on the driveway was pure pandemonium, and Joan almost got bonked in the face with a ball.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Miss Manners cannot entirely guarantee, however, that your finger will not bonk your nose instead — particularly after the second or third old-fashioned.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonk
Verb
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Bregman hit 11 home runs in 226 plate appearances, a rate of one every 20.5 at bats.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
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Earlier, in the fourth, Chisholm hit his fourth homer in his last five games.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Anyone who attended the National Restaurant Show in Chicago last month was smacked in the face at booth after booth by a single agenda wrought from desperation: how to harness technology to find ways to use fewer human workers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
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Please Tony, stop smacking your lips after every sentence.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
Verb
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But, everyone's mostly aware, that many celebrities get five-figure treatments and then launch skincare lines, slapping their names on them.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The product was fresh, the money real, and every A&R man from New York to Memphis knew the formula: Find a pretty face, slap a catchy chorus behind it, and watch the allowances roll in.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2025
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But failure rates knocked maybe a percentage point off total yearly returns, in aggregate, and insurance products were available and continually diversifying.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Instead of the Apple logo sitting dead-center in the circle, the suggestion is that a partial circle will be deployed, so as not to bang into the logo.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Similar to Wednesday’s match in the same stadium against Manchester City, the Wydad supporters chanted loudly, banged their drums, and even threw a few flares onto the field, not far from goalkeeper Benabid (see below) following Lorch’s goal in the 25th minute.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Verb
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On the witness stand, Ventura described Combs stomping on her face in the back of an Escalade in 2009 and kicking and punching her repeatedly over the years.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
27 June 2025
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According to Atlanta News First, Hapeville Police confirmed that she was punched and pepper-sprayed during an altercation with an Uber driver.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Corey Perry, who scored with the goalie pulled to send Game 2 into overtime, whacked a loose puck at the blue line through a double screen with 3:13 left.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2025
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Naturally, it was expected that Tony would be the one to whack Richie.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Alana Haim got a big surge of support too as her sisters Danielle and Este Haim smiled and clapped in the row behind the cast.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
23 May 2025
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People did not seem especially enthusiastic in clapping for him, but the crowd was willing to give it up for New York City.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonk. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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