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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 knock
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
My husband was against the window and felt a pop that actually knocked our door from the frame.
—George Solis, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
The latter is just wrapping up a related interview when there’s a knock on her door.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
To be sure, shares of Microsoft and Meta Platforms were under pressure Thursday from their respective spending forecasts, knocking the broader stock market.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
My husband was against the window and felt a pop that actually knocked our door from the frame.
—George Solis, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Paula started to say a few more things about the terms of my post-employment, but there was a knock on the door.
—Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
The latter is just wrapping up a related interview when there’s a knock on her door.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
-
Shakey’s motors would then follow this route, using its camera, range-finder sensors, and bump detectors to monitor its progress toward the goal.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Kylie's debut dethroned Joe Rogan, bumping The Joe Rogan Experience down to the second spot.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shein—a global fast-fashion juggernaut headquartered in Singapore—was mere days away from opening its first physical store in Paris, inside the BHV Marais department store, when the news hit.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Rojas, a light-hitting infielder, hit an unexpected home run in the ninth inning of Game Seven to tie it and force extra innings, when the Dodgers won it.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Congressional Republican leaders have even begun blaming him for the federal government shutdown.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Several reasons were to blame for the scary-low turnout, including a dearth of new releases as well as the misfortune of Halloween landing on a Friday, which meant families were distracted by trick-or-treating.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Michael Owens / Getty Images A struggling Chicago Bears defense was dealt another blow Monday with news that defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles and is going to miss the rest of the season.—
Kevin Fishbain,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The rain came down sideways, the temperature dipped from the 50s to the 40s, and Inter Miami’s playoff hopes took a big blow on Saturday night as Lionel Messi and his teammates lost 2-1 on the road to Nashville SC.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Mistakes, misfortunes, even tragedy, toxic secrets from the past—anything can happen, or may have happened.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry and coach Doug Christie are trying to pick up the pieces after a season of chaos caused their predecessors to lose their jobs, but so far fate and misfortune seem to be conspiring against them.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Hurricane Melissa is a major setback for the country’s all-important tourism industry.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Yet, despite this military setback, the militia in Lebanon shows no intention of relinquishing its weapons.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Deiseroth continued to yell and bang his head in the back of the car while Lane, Dorestant and Scibilia arranged for Deiseroth’s estranged wife to come down from Miami-Dade County to pick up the couple’s children, according to the footage and his arrest report.—
David Goodhue
October 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Authorities said extra officers and detectives were patrolling the area Thursday when a resident near Angus Drive and the park called 911 shortly after midnight to report what police described as a loud, banging noise sounding from their vehicle and a figure standing next to the car.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The elder Ciattarelli slapped his forward with his right hand as his son, dressed in camouflage fatigues, approached for a hug.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
One columnist with the New Pittsburgh Courier even slapped Whyte’s label on the United Nations, suggesting that countries, like individuals, had a primal aversion to yielding their sovereignty to the groupthink of world governance.—
David Merritt Johns,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share