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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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 There was more talk of hitting a provisional, but Spieth refused. — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026 That cool air crashes toward the ground, then spreads outward in every direction like water hitting the floor. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 13 July 2026 Shohei Ohtani’s custom cleats, worn during the Dodgers’ 2025 season opener in Japan, are hitting the auction block as the latest seven-figure prize in sports’ booming collectibles economy. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 After a couple of nondescript seasons, Baines came of age in 1982, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 105. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026 Rather than hitting as many home runs as possible in a certain amount of time, each participant will get 20 swings in the first round. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026 The right-handed-hitting Quatrani had 15 longballs in 53 games. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026 To the moon All the political developments of the last 24 hours have not stopped stocks, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting 53,000 for the first time ever. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026 The complaint noted that Tinucci did not contact law enforcement or first responders in the approximately 30 to 40 minutes between hitting the e-bicyclist and returning to speak with deputies. — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hitting

Verb

Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
Belgium trounced the United States, winning 4-1, knocking the hosts out of the competition.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

Bruce McLaren was a legendary New Zealand racing driver, engineer and designer regarded as one of the most brilliant, versatile minds in motorsport history, achieving rare success simultaneously as a world-class driver and a visionary constructor.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 July 2026
Saturday’s flight is a step forward for Japan in achieving the technology needed to develop a lower cost successor to the country’s current mainstay, single-use H3 series.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026

Definition of achieving

Verb

The first mode is a more simple impact detonation — simply put, smacking the asteroid's surface to create a shallow crater, in which a nuclear device is exploded.

— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Gill saved the first shot in the penalty shootout against Germany, diving to his left and smacking away the ball headed for the back of the net.

— Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

With men on first and second against Andrew Alvarez (2-3), Rice hit a drive on the fourth straight curveball from Alvarez that center fielder Dylan Crews was unable to catch while slamming into the wall.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Six fighting bulls and their steers repeatedly knocked runners to the cobblestones, with one bull breaking from the herd and slamming into a cluster of unsuspecting participants.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

There was briefly some concern earlier this year that Chestnut wouldn’t be able to participate in the 2026 competition after he was arrested for allegedly slapping a man in an Indiana bar.

— Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026