HITTING Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

hitting

verb

present participle of hit

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in achieving

to obtain (as a goal) through effort the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hitting Iamaleava looked poised in the pocket, going through multiple reads and hitting pass catchers across the field in an array of spots and formations. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 Rising fuel prices caused by the instability at the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb straits are hitting farmers in parts of the West just as harvest season opens. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 Herrera hit his second homer of the game and 18th of the season to tie the game at 3-all after hitting a solo shot in the first inning. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 With midterm Election Day now just 44 days away, that pressure over high gas prices is hitting the president and his party hard. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 The Dolphins’ defense failed to create pressure on the opposing quarterback, hitting Brock Purdy all of five times during Sunday’s game. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026 Season five ended abruptly after a video leaked of Taylor Frankie Paul throwing a stool at her ex Dakota Mortensen and almost hitting her daughter. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026 Across the four new episodes hitting Netflix on Tuesday, Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) and Doozie (Celestina Harris) will bring a whole new sisterly dynamic to the show, and music will play a big role in their family. — Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 14 Sep. 2026 He was carted off the field after seemingly hitting his head on teammate Jordan Walker’s knee. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hitting

Verb

Next, the door becomes his battering ram, knocking three enemies down to the landing below him.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Some of the entries this year have been knocking on the Hall door for years, including Tickle Me Elmo, the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Mahjong.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Catcher Daniel Susac followed up Wednesday’s two-home-run game by smacking a two-run shot, and the Giants bullpen didn’t break down while protecting a 4-1 victory.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Suddenly, a 2004 Ford Expedition barreled into the intersection from the wrong direction at a high rate of speed, slamming into the middle of the bus.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Back when the first trailer for Scream 7 was released last October, fans quickly began slamming the movie on social media, calling for a boycott.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

Sure, the culinary reach of Italian cuisine goes far and wide, from New York pizza slice shops to high-end, award-winning restaurants that specialize in food from all over the country, but there’s nothing like sitting down for a meal in Milan.

— Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
And Coleman keeps his lineup of award-winning brews fresh with special drops.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of winning

Verb

Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Texas quarterback Arch Manning has apologized for his public reaction to a video that was altered by AI to show Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe and knocking her to the ground.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

Still, diesel's record-setting rise colliding with the fall harvest season means that costs will balloon for producers of crops like corn and wheat, according to Jacob Aiken-Phillips, head of consumer and retail research at Melius Research.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
And just a few hours before F1’s first practice session of the weekend on Friday afternoon, a Formula 2 car went up in flames after colliding with the barriers.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026