knuckleball

knuck·le·ball | \ ˈnə-kəl-ˌbȯl

How to pronounce knuckleball (audio)

\

Definition of knuckleball

: a slow baseball pitch that moves erratically and unpredictably and that is thrown with little spin by gripping the ball with the knuckles or the tips of the fingers pressed against the top

Other Words from knuckleball Example Sentences Learn More about knuckleball

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of knuckleball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Feeney’s first snap to quarterback Rivers in the shotgun formation was a bit of a knuckleball, and some of his snaps weren’t as crisp as Pouncey’s usually are. — Los Angeles Times, "Chargers’ Austin Ekeler fumbles another chance to score touchdown just before end zone," 6 Oct. 2019 Foster said his knowledge of the knuckleball — next to nothing — is indicative of its increasing rarity. — Matthew Gutierrez, The Denver Post, "The knuckleball is quickly going extinct in MLB," 15 Aug. 2019 The teenage sensation took his goal wonderfully, collecting a pass on the edge of the box and driving a knuckleball shot beyond Rimando. — SI.com, "MLS All-Stars 0-3 Atletico Madrid: Player Ratings for Wednesday's Spectacle in Orlando," 1 Aug. 2019 This was a solid strike, causing the shot to wobble knuckleball style. — Frank Dell’apa, BostonGlobe.com, "MLS season could have a Hollywood ending for LAFC," 26 Aug. 2019 Feierabend gets at a number of the factors that endanger the knuckleball. — Matthew Gutierrez, The Denver Post, "The knuckleball is quickly going extinct in MLB," 15 Aug. 2019 Bouton used that knuckleball in 1969 with the expansion Seattle Pilots and the Houston Astros. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, "Jim Bouton Opened Up the Major Leagues to Everyone," 11 July 2019 Kern lists his pitches as a two-seam and four-seam fastball plus a knuckleball. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Never-say-die Bayside 11s overcome first-night Section 3 loss to clinch trip to state championship," 10 July 2019 Smith and Sakib also studied the aerodynamics of knuckleballs with their apparatus and found that the flow will separate near the back of the ball any time the seam is located there mid-flight. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Physics can explain the fastball’s unexpected twist, new study finds," 23 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knuckleball.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about knuckleball

Dictionary Entries near knuckleball

Statistics for knuckleball

Cite this Entry

“Knuckleball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knuckleball. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

dissemble

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

More Confusing Words—Quiz

The magician ______ moved the selected card to the top of the deck.

discreetly discretely

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.