1
as in knocking
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 bumping
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 achieving
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hitting
The developer of Aurora Driver, an all-in-one self-driving solution, underdelivered last year, hitting its stock hard.
—
Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
The grant terminations are also hitting nonprofit groups in Illinois, with leaders of those groups saying the cuts could mean fewer services in Illinois for people struggling with homelessness, substance use disorders and fewer prevention and training programs related to mental health.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
According to a source for PEOPLE, the beloved Los Angeles home used for establishing shots of Uncle Phil and the Banks family's home is hitting the market for the first time since 1978.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Ramirez is a left-handed hitting center fielder who is signing for $800,000, per Badler.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
And Advisry is back on schedule, hitting February 15 with a fresh wave of streetwear-meets-art energy.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 15 Jan. 2026
Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are once again hitting the road together.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Mitchell added 13 points, hitting all three of his three-point attempts and dishing out 10 assists, compared with two turnovers.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
The grant terminations are also hitting nonprofit groups in Illinois, with leaders of those groups saying the cuts could mean fewer services in Illinois for people struggling with homelessness, substance use disorders and fewer prevention and training programs related to mental health.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
According to a source for PEOPLE, the beloved Los Angeles home used for establishing shots of Uncle Phil and the Banks family's home is hitting the market for the first time since 1978.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Ramirez is a left-handed hitting center fielder who is signing for $800,000, per Badler.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
And Advisry is back on schedule, hitting February 15 with a fresh wave of streetwear-meets-art energy.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 15 Jan. 2026
Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are once again hitting the road together.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Mitchell added 13 points, hitting all three of his three-point attempts and dishing out 10 assists, compared with two turnovers.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hitting
Verb
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The woman recalled someone knocking on their door, waking her family, before hearing shots.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Los Angeles was knocking at the door again with a third-and-2 from New England’s three-yard line, but Kimani Vidal was stuffed.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Its four conference wins against bottom-tier teams have come by 33, 20, 10 and 42 points, bumping them from 78 to 50 in Kenpom and to 44 in the NET.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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Not surprisingly, Robby’s reaction to bumping into Langdon is mostly anger.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Put a Monogram on It The key to achieving a personalized home lies in those little details.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Fixating on the outcome and then having trouble achieving that goal can be discouraging.—
Gillian Mohney,
Verywell Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.—
Joan Silber,
New Yorker,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He was placed in concussion protocol Monday night after slamming his head against the turf in the team's win over the Steelers.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
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Brown said, noting that the officer slung his rifle around his back before grabbing and body-slamming the protester.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Miami is just 7-15 against teams with a winning record this season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
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That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Sentra slowed and spun back into traffic before colliding with a red pickup truck, police said.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Footage of the crash showed the cars colliding head-on before the vehicles and debris flew in multiple directions, per Sky News.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hitting. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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