Thesaurus results for BONK

bonk

verb

ˈbäŋk

Definition of bonk

as in to hit

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner an overhead branch suddenly fell and bonked him on the head

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 bonk Or picture playing a round of knockout basketball with Caitlin Clark when you’ve been known to bonk the majority of your free throws. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026 With eight minutes left in the contest, Kempe bonked Cale Makar in the back of the head, then went to the box for mixing it up with captain Gabe Landeskog, who came to Makar’s defense, shortly thereafter. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026 Watch the baby birds bonking at the video at the top of the story. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026 That depletes your carb stores prematurely, leaving you unable to accelerate and more likely to bonk. — Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bonk

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonk

Verb

Prosecutors said Wilcox was hit by gunfire, fell to the ground and fired three more gunshots at the officers.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
The different program sales operations of Skydance hit the Côte d’Azur under their pre-existing Paramount and WB brands.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hit

Verb

Eventually, Bird’s film — with a script co-written by Matthew Robbins — gets to the meat of the action when Venus’ extremely complicated life runs smack into Ray and his knack for sniffing out bad guys.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
The Eagles also have been smacked with injuries and played without several key starters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of smack

Verb

Antetokounmpo wasted no time in starting to rave about the Heat culture, a phrase that has become a lightning rod for criticism from talking heads around the NBA — especially after the franchise slapped the word across shirts and jerseys.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Less than three months after that deal was announced in January 2022, Smith became an industry pariah after slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars, earning a 10-year ban from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of slap

Verb

The fans were ready to rock, but the Guardians knocked the Sox on their backs.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
The 22-year-old emerged from the woods Wednesday evening after a six-day disappearance and knocked on the driver’s side window of a search-and-rescue cruiser.

— Angie Orellana Hernandez, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of knock

Verb

On this day in 1960, one of the most shocking and iconic Cold War moments unfolded when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev brandished and banged his shoe at the United Nations.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
Kulich stood near the side of the net banging his stick on the ice, and Power found him with the perfect pass.

— Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of bang

Verb

Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson’s suspension for punching a Buffalo Bills player after a game has been reduced from two games to one, an NFL spokesman said Wednesday.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
For Lee, the true measure of a man is how many other men, and women, want to punch his lights out.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of punch

Verb

When the game resumed, families in the stands celebrated each time a child managed to whack the ball.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
But every season thus far — not only including but especially this one — has concluded as a perverse, whack, and certainly damning portrait of American war games in an era of steep imperial decline.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of whack

Verb

About 75 people packed the room at Morning Star Community Center, often clapping and cheering in support of the criticism.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
Bruni played guitar and sang classic folk songs and a Rolling Stones number as guests clapped and danced from their seats.

— Vogue, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of clap

Browse Nearby Words

boning (up)

bonk

bonked

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Style

“Bonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonk. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bonk

verb

Example Sentences

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