1
as in knocks
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a good carpenter hits a nail just two or three times to drive it in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bumps
to come into usually forceful contact with something
when she fell on the ice, she hit hard and badly bruised her elbow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wins
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in successes
a person or thing that is successful
the new babysitter turned out to be a hit with the kids
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the quarterback can't take too many more hits like that and escape permanent injury
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hits
Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score hits the right notes in a tricky assignment that creates a feeling of punk without actually being that.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
When a strike hits, the shockwave is channeled into these stub tunnels rather than penetrating the main complex.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hogs reel off a 13-0 run before Nic Codie hits a little jumper in the lane and Dailyn Swain converts a 3-point play.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
The suspension hits Cubans on the Caribbean island especially hard.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Jack Jones also hits the market next week after an uneven season as a Dolphin.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
On Wednesdays, Aiken picks up any leftover papers before the new issue hits the stands.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
For all of the song’s swings at zeitgeisty sloganeering and earnest eulogizing and singalong choruses, the line that hits the hardest is a passing thought in one of the verses.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 25 Feb. 2026
Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Between them, Cal Quantrill, now off to pitch for Team Canada in the WBC, and Austin Gomber have allowed 19 hits and 11 runs in 7⅓ innings.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Smith allowed one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
No complaints about the delicate hits of sesame and ginger, but the huge kick of stevia is a no-go, even for those who are not averse to the sweetener.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Based on a novel by Andy Weir (The Martian), the film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who previously helmed hits like The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
The Aggies then turned to right-handed sophomore Gavin Lyons, who went two innings, allowing three hits and one run.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Castellanos, who could platoon with Gavin Sheets during the season, made his second Cactus League start at first base on Tuesday afternoon and had two hits.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Wargnier, who got the save in San Clemente’s season-opening win over Capistrano Valley Christian, allowed zero earned runs in four innings with just three hits allowed.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score hits the right notes in a tricky assignment that creates a feeling of punk without actually being that.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
When a strike hits, the shockwave is channeled into these stub tunnels rather than penetrating the main complex.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hogs reel off a 13-0 run before Nic Codie hits a little jumper in the lane and Dailyn Swain converts a 3-point play.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
The suspension hits Cubans on the Caribbean island especially hard.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Jack Jones also hits the market next week after an uneven season as a Dolphin.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
On Wednesdays, Aiken picks up any leftover papers before the new issue hits the stands.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
For all of the song’s swings at zeitgeisty sloganeering and earnest eulogizing and singalong choruses, the line that hits the hardest is a passing thought in one of the verses.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
The unfolding war in the Middle East has ricocheted across the region, with nearly every country sustaining damage from missile hits or shrapnel, many reporting casualties, and key embassies, economic engines and passageways closing down.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Between them, Cal Quantrill, now off to pitch for Team Canada in the WBC, and Austin Gomber have allowed 19 hits and 11 runs in 7⅓ innings.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Smith allowed one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
No complaints about the delicate hits of sesame and ginger, but the huge kick of stevia is a no-go, even for those who are not averse to the sweetener.
—Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Based on a novel by Andy Weir (The Martian), the film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who previously helmed hits like The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
The Aggies then turned to right-handed sophomore Gavin Lyons, who went two innings, allowing three hits and one run.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Castellanos, who could platoon with Gavin Sheets during the season, made his second Cactus League start at first base on Tuesday afternoon and had two hits.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Wargnier, who got the save in San Clemente’s season-opening win over Capistrano Valley Christian, allowed zero earned runs in four innings with just three hits allowed.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hits
Verb
-
These are not knocks on Miami of Ohio.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Opportunity knocks when an aspiring video game designer (Myles Erlick) is given a time-stopping device by his friend (Sean Astin), the eccentric owner of a toy store.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, excluding a mandatory $2,595 destination fee that bumps the price to $102,590.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
-
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Schnabel’s cinematic canon includes Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and 4x Oscar nominated The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which earned the filmmaker a Best Director Oscar nom, and Best Director wins at the Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globes and Césars.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Has he been influenced by the successes?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
There have been individual successes on the pitch (such as Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and the wonderfully gifted Estevao) and players who have been sold on for a tidy profit (such as Djordje Petrovic, Renato Veiga and Noni Madueke).—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her tenure was marked by downward-trending stock prices and a series of blows to the company’s image.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Starmer’s Labour government seems bent on inflicting even harsher blows very soon.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nahill is even featured in a video, indulgently attempting to snack on a donut, before Tyson, now a de facto spokesperson for HHS’ healthy foods initiatives, slaps it out of his hand.—
Chelsea Cirruzzo,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Is this violence different from the time in her childhood when Irene slaps her?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hormonal chaos collides with maximum responsibility and minimum infrastructure, and what used to be manageable becomes debilitating.—
Sarah Oreck,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
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This manhunt soon collides with financial journalist Isabel De Leon (Genesis Rodriguez) and billionaire power broker Jacob Monroe (Louis Herthum), who Peter made a deal with in season 2.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hamilton achieves an airy mode of self-astonishment that by degrees turns completely chilling.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Reiter achieves this impressive combination by building its mini-bus-like body from carbon fiber, delivering an empty vehicle cabin with high torsional rigidity, a very low weight and a roof capacity up to 1,100 lb (500 kg).—
C.C. Weiss
March 05,
New Atlas,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hits. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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