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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
One new tax, one new rule, one new fee could knock these smaller companies out.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
The biggest knock on Daniels entering the NFL from LSU was how would his body hold up for a skinny guy who is not afraid to run the ball a lot.
—Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Considering that, the researchers argue the world's space agencies wouldn't be able to pull off a reconnaissance mission to gather data, and then manufacture a spacecraft in time with the specifications needed to successfully crash into and knock the asteroid off its current trajectory.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
One new tax, one new rule, one new fee could knock these smaller companies out.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
In February 2019, just days before their son’s 3rd birthday, Porter got a knock on her parents’ door, breaking the news that Rosa had died by suicide.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
The biggest knock on Daniels entering the NFL from LSU was how would his body hold up for a skinny guy who is not afraid to run the ball a lot.
—Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
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But Sparkle Megan didn't let that bump in the road derail her mission to find a husband.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
But, also don’t want to bump Edge.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The newer versions can hit stationary and moving targets at sea.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
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His termination notice came just over a week after reporting he had been hit by a car while on duty.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But historically, voters have blamed the party in power for a government shutdown.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
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Dohn Community High School closed in early 2025, and school officials have blamed Davenport for its abrupt collapse.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Ravens have gotten off to a 1-3 start in a season for the first time since 2015, delivering an early blow to the team’s Super Bowl ambitions.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Then came the biggest blow with Gavi’s torn meniscus.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Cincinnati was in jeopardy of a three-game sweep, but Marte's catch and his RBI single in the fifth inning helped the Reds avoid that misfortune.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Finally, there is Edward (Louis Partridge), the youngest brother, who has followed dutifully in Benjamin’s footsteps and has his own unique ideas, but has the sole misfortune of his birth order.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Seeking an explanation for this unexpected setback, Army Special Operations reached out in 2021 to my lab at Ohio State University.—
Angus Fletcher,
Big Think,
29 Sep. 2025
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Four senior players were ruled out with significant physical setbacks last week.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And no need to worry about cookies sticking to the baking sheet or having to bang the muffin tin against the counter to pop them out.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Sep. 2025
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In a trial that began Wednesday, six Cubans, including independent journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea, also face sentences of up to nine years in prison for staging a cacerolazo protest, banging pots and pans during a blackout in the Villa Clara province in November 2024.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a video posted just days before the competition started, Richter gets his butt slapped by his mentor.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The investigation, which includes an anti-dumping probe, comes just days after Mexican authorities slapped duties on an array of Chinese imports from textiles to steel and automotive parts.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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