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

Relevance

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

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 The Orioles scored only one run over their previous three games against Boston, but Joey Cantillo (9-9) did plenty to help them out of their slump, allowing 3 hits and 5 walks and hitting 2 batters in 2 1/3 innings. — Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026 In men’s tennis, before even hitting the ball, the server has around a 66 percent chance of winning the point. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 The plane struck navigational equipment before hitting a van carrying seven workers from a contract cleaning company and then impacted another vehicle traveling on a roadway outside the airport perimeter fence, according to Homendy. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026 Missing from the team for the first time since 2011 is big-hitting Lexi Thompson, who no longer plays a full schedule and is expecting her first baby early next year. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 Roberts received positive reports from his hitting coaches, training staff and Ohtani about the work and his recovery. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, China’s demand for raw materials and intermediate goods would dry up, hitting commodity-exporting economies and other developing countries that depend on China as a top trading partner. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 Boise State scored on the first series of the game, with Madsen hitting Cam Bates with a 13-yard scoring pass to cap an 11-play drive. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026 The woman, traveling south in a 2004 Toyota Tacoma, swerved to avoid hitting the driver. — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hitting

Verb

While significantly smaller than Nvidia, Google or Apple, Broadcom shares are knocking on a $2 trillion valuation.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Prince was able to free the ATV and accelerated toward the deputy, striking him and knocking him to the ground.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of knocking

Verb

The joint statement said Namibia had surpassed UNAIDS targets by achieving a target of 96% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 98% of those diagnosed receiving treatment, and 98% of those treated having achieved viral suppression.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
An upset victory in Alaska for Democrats would be a massive step toward achieving that goal.

— Joey Garrison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of achieving

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

At the weigh-ins and face-off for the IBF heavyweight championship fight, Itauma shoved Hrgovic off the stage and the latter retaliated by slapping the former's face.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Already, Skubal’s joining in on pregame handshake lines and slapping the dugout railing in time to Roki Sasaki’s warm-up music.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slapping

Verb

So Pioneer 11 pioneered the way through Saturn's outer rings, going where no spacecraft had gone before — and nearly colliding with a small moon along the way.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
To study quark-gluon plasma, CERN scientists have generated this plasma by colliding heavy nuclei such as lead.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026