Synonyms of knock

knock 1 of 2

verb

ˈnäk 

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

• bump
• bang
• slam
• smash
• collide
• hit
• crash
• ram
• impinge
• swipe
• impact
• strike
• thud
• bash
• bounce
• scrape
• glance
• skip
• contact
• rebound
• push
• sweep
• brush
• touch
• ricochet
• kiss
• land
• nudge
• shave
• clunk
• graze
• skim
• jostle
• muscle
• carom
• bulldoze
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• skirt

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

• hit
• slap
• smack
• punch
• slam
• bang
• strike
• whack
• clap
• swipe
• pound
• crack
• bat
• kick
• clip
• thump
• box
• nail
• bash
• shove
• hammer
• tap
• lick
• push
• swat
• clock
• poke
• zap
• clobber
• bludgeon
• smite
• chop
• jab
• thwack
• slug
• stab
• tag
• bop
• clout
• flick
• sock
• bob
• bonk
• belt
• bump
• rap
• wallop
• bust
• paste
• stroke
• beat
• slog
• whale
• biff
• pummel
• rough
• maul
• hang one on
• pepper
• knee
• scuff
• batter
• drub
• slash
• bung
• mangle
• fell
• dump
• butt
• cuff
• stamp
• jostle
• pelt
• whip
• lambaste
• lash
• buffet
• deck
• floor
• cream
• bunt
• knock down
• switch
• cane
• lace
• pommel
• prod
• conk
• spear
• brain
• club
• cudgel
• sap
• level
• thrash
• bowl (down or over)
• bean
• flog
• flail
• sucker punch
• sledge
• skull
• sledgehammer
• rabbit-punch

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

• blame
• criticize
• fault
• condemn
• denounce
• attack
• slam
• tweak
• kick
• find fault (with)
• pan
• slag
• censure
• slash
• complain
• deplore
• blast
• lash
• come down hard (on)
• dis
• take to task
• dispraise
• reprehend
• clobber
• assail
• whine
• admonish
• grumble
• mutter
• bitch
• murmur
• moan
• scold
• snipe (at)
• berate
• beef
• nick (at)
• skewer
• chide
• growl
• grouse
• hammer
• crucify
• cavil
• disparage
• reprimand
• rebuke
• quibble
• deride
• gripe
• crab
• belittle
• flay
• upbraid
• reproach
• carp
• decry
• croak
• excoriate
• reprove
• castigate
• bellyache
• drub
• keelhaul
• kvetch
• niggle
• pillory
• bad-mouth
• fuss
• lambaste
• put down
• discommend
• gibbet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• approve
• recommend
• commend
• endorse
• sanction
• extol
• laud

knock

2 of 2

noun

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

• blow
• hit
• thump
• slap
• punch
• whack
• thud
• swipe
• pound
• stroke
• smack
• poke
• bang
• lick
• slam
• beat
• spank
• kick
• clap
• hook
• chop
• switch
• clip
• smash
• crack
• swat
• bat
• pick
• lash
• sock
• box
• belt
• bash
• pounding
• cuff
• slug
• hack
• pelt
• bop
• thwack
• knee
• wham
• bust
• stripe
• biff
• buffet
• rap
• fillip
• plump
• clout
• wallop
• dab
• swing
• welt
• licking
• beating
• stinger
• douse
• haymaker
• whop
• hand
• left
• counter
• larrup
• hammering
• right
• body blow
• whip
• sucker punch
• roundhouse
• shiver
• knockdown
• whipping
• one-two
• counterstroke
• counterblow
• uppercut
• KO
• knockout
• thrashing
• battering
• pummeling
• counterpunch
• rabbit punch
• drubbing
• sidewinder
• flogging
• clobbering
• pasting
• bludgeoning
• cruncher
• cudgeling
• walloping
• right-hander
• kayo
• lambasting
• bastinado

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

• misfortune
• tragedy
• ill
• blow
• trouble
• hardship
• adversity
• disaster
• mishap
• trial
• misery
• fate
• accident
• defeat
• catastrophe
• misadventure
• mischance
• doom
• calamity
• suffering
• disappointment
• circumstance
• curse
• distress
• sorrow
• failure
• woe
• evil
• setback
• tribulation
• unhappiness
• casualty
• cataclysm
• destiny
• fizzle
• portion
• body blow
• affliction
• nonsuccess
• letdown
• lot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opportunity
• luck
• chance
• hit
• strike
• fortune
• break
• stroke
• success
• serendipity
• achievement
• windfall
• fluke
• accomplishment
• godsend

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

• setback
• reverse
• reversal
• reversion
• lapse
• decline
• disappointment
• fall
• down
• collapse
• downfall
• frustration
• turnaround
• regression
• breakdown
• letdown
• recession
• crash
• comedown
• relapse
• ruin
• turnabout
• descent
• undoing
• retrogression
• meltdown

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• status quo

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of knock

Verb

Video shared by NorCal Resist showed Moreida standing in the street recording an approaching SUV when its front-right corner appeared to strike him, knocking him to the pavement. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

In fact, this attempt to have it both ways — a horror movie set in the DC universe, and a DC universe movie that hopes to attract the horror-fan crowd — may have knocked things down a peg or three. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2026

Noun

Shawn, his parents, and the stranger were sitting around the dining table, their bowls of rice steaming before them, when the knock came. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

The Rays have Yankee-killer Drew Rasmussen, a somewhat under-appreciated pitching staff, strong defense and a bunch of hitters who could get key knocks or put pressure on the Yankees’ defense. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing knock

• knock (about)
• knock (someone) off his/her pedestal
• knock back
• knock dead
• knock down
• knock for a loop
• knock off
• knock one's socks off
• knock out
• knock over
• knock silly
• knock together
• knock up