bonk

verb

ˈbäŋk How to pronounce bonk (audio)
Definition of bonknext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bonk Or picture playing a round of knockout basketball with Caitlin Clark when you’ve been known to bonk the majority of your free throws. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026 With eight minutes left in the contest, Kempe bonked Cale Makar in the back of the head, then went to the box for mixing it up with captain Gabe Landeskog, who came to Makar’s defense, shortly thereafter. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026 Watch the baby birds bonking at the video at the top of the story. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026 That depletes your carb stores prematurely, leaving you unable to accelerate and more likely to bonk. — Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonk
  1. hit
  2. smack
  3. slap
  4. knock
  5. bang
  6. punch
  7. whack
  8. clap
Verb
  • As thousands of professors at in the University of California system say the students entering their classrooms are increasingly under-prepared for university-level math, the university’s timely graduation rates just hit all-time highs.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
  • Average daily rates in Miami hit $302 for both game nights and eves, according to AirDNA.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • Heavy raindrops flew sideways, smacking against the hood of my rain jacket and creating a nearly deafening white noise.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman smacked a 463-foot whopper late last month.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of smack
Verb
  • Brussels, however, was less charitable with EU regulators slapping a fine of 890 million euros ($1 billion) on Google, its first penalty under the Digital Markets Act, for favoring its own services.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 July 2026
  • Since the fire, Southern California’s Air Quality Management District has slapped Lineage with multiple violations tied to the warehouse.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of slap
Verb
  • The person knocked on the door and was let in by Chavez, and the video recording device was disconnected about 10 minutes later, investigators have said.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
  • Thekla then strikes Nightingale with the microphone and attempts to hit her with the championship belt, but Nightingale knocks her away.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of knock
Verb
  • So users enjoy a dedicated shower room without banging their shins on the toilet or arms on the sink.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
  • Part of Ludwig Göransson’s score is based on the sound of banging pieces of bronze, which turn out to be the alarm bells of Troy, a warning of violence that echoes throughout the film.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Definition of bang
Verb
  • Brown was accused of twice hitting the victim with a glass bottle to his head while Akinlolu punched him.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Trey Songz has avoided jail time following his arrest last year over allegedly punching an employee at a nightclub in New York City.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
Definition of punch
Verb
  • Poor guy is probably just trying to watch the home run derby in peace and just got drive by whacked by me.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026
  • The actions to date are little more than whack-a-mole exercises as the operators simply replace their botnets with new ones.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
Definition of whack
Verb
  • As the room applauded, the president did not appear to be clapping.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 July 2026
  • As McIver built clouds and caterpillars from soap water, the children clapped and cheered in unison.
    — Claire Wang, Oc Register, 23 July 2026
Definition of clap

Browse Nearby Words

boning (up)
bonk
bonked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonk. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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