knuckleball
noun
knuck·le·ball
ˈnə-kəl-ˌbȯl 
: 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
Examples of knuckleball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This year, major league pitchers have thrown only 15 knuckleballs.
—
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Maybe Matt Waldron comes up and trusts his knuckleball.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
The Leafs broke their 0-for-30 power play drought in possible series-clinching games with a knuckleball of a shot from the Leafs captain.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Tirso Ornelas, a 24-year-old outfielder who has been in the Padres’ system since 2017 and has yet to make his MLB debut, worked a 12-pitch walk and doubled.
Balls and strikes: Matt Waldron allowed a first-inning run on two hits, both against his knuckleball.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025
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Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Maybe Matt Waldron comes up and trusts his knuckleball.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
The Leafs broke their 0-for-30 power play drought in possible series-clinching games with a knuckleball of a shot from the Leafs captain.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Tirso Ornelas, a 24-year-old outfielder who has been in the Padres’ system since 2017 and has yet to make his MLB debut, worked a 12-pitch walk and doubled.
Balls and strikes: Matt Waldron allowed a first-inning run on two hits, both against his knuckleball.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knuckleball
Cite this Entry
“Knuckleball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knuckleball. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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knuckleball
noun
knuck·le·ball
ˈnək-əl-ˌbȯl
: a baseball pitch gripped with the knuckles or fingertips and thrown with very little spin
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