1
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something
my knee knocked against the table leg when I tried to get up quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
threatened to knock him upside the head if he didn't do as he was told
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to blame
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
hey, don't knock it until you've tried it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
getting his college degree was a six year adventure not without its share of knocks along the way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in setback
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the geneticist's reputation took a knock when several of his peers were unable to confirm his research findings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of knock
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
For some Nobel Prize winners this year, the news came with a knock at the door before dawn.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Her husband knocked frames down and fixed the walls, while Donaldson took on taping, filling, sanding and painting.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the movie, though, there’s no door knock.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
For some Nobel Prize winners this year, the news came with a knock at the door before dawn.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
-
The Jays needed to navigate a six-man rotation or bump someone from the starting staff.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The Chiefs were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles—at one point, the score was 34–0—and Kelce was spotted on the sidelines screaming at and bumping the Chiefs’ coach, Andy Reid.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Snell faced the minimum while allowing one hit and striking out a postseason career-high 10 batters.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Swart also blamed major social-media platforms for monetizing outrage and accelerating polarization.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Peart is certainly not the only one to blame for Denver’s putrid offensive effort, which included a trio of three-and-outs and a safety — on Quinn Meinerz for holding in the end zone — among the team’s first four drives of the second half.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That’s when Carr should be able to deliver the final blow against a USC defense that ranks among the Power 4’s worst against the pass.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Experts say the collapse of the talks marks not only a significant blow for attempts to clean up a heavily climate-polluting industry, undermining decades of negotiations, but also represents yet another failure of climate diplomacy.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
-
For Rising, his misfortune and some good timing dovetailed to put him here.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In early September, the group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaida affiliate, announced a ban on fuel imports from neighboring countries in what analysts say poses huge risks for the fragile local economy and is a significant setback for Mali’s military junta.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The latest setback came when Miami let a late lead slip away in a 29-27 Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There are up to 20,000 rabid people raining down their emotions from all angles, a dozen sticks clattering, two dozen skates carving, all those burly bodies bumping into each other and banging into the boards, plus an endless stream of screaming and grunting and cursing.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Vanderbilt played 13 minutes Wednesday before being removed midway through the second quarter with a left quadriceps contusion after banging his left knee with a Mavericks defender.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Violeta Santos Moura | Reuters Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of trying to weaken the global economy by slapping export controls on resources vital for technology.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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