1
as in bending
to cause to turn away from a straight line
the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in connecting
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole
hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stealing
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course
hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 hooking
After referees called Wembanyama on a foul on Karl-Anthony Towns, a review determined that Towns had been the one to commit a foul, an offensive foul, by hooking Wembanyama with his arm.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
However, the episode ends with a fisherman hooking an unknown big catch in the very lake where the billionaire's body lies.
—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
The closest thing in effort required is hooking the robot when it’s done, emptying out its filter basket and putting it back on the charger.
—
Brad Moon,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
In the video, Jessie, who is wearing a blue bikini, puts one foot on her husband's thigh and the other on his shoulder, hooking it around his neck, and stands up steadily while flashing her arm muscles at the camera.
—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
While hooking paying customers remains a challenge for most of the AI industry, Grok stands out as a particularly terrible performer.
—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
14 May 2026
Devon Toews was called for a hooking penalty, giving Minnesota 63 seconds of 4-on-3 power-play time.
—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Mason McTavish’s hooking minor proved costly as the Oilers scored just four seconds into the penalty.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
By hooking a solo shot around the Pesky Pole, the lefty swinger finally hit his first dinger of the year off Boston southpaw Payton Tolle.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
However, the episode ends with a fisherman hooking an unknown big catch in the very lake where the billionaire's body lies.
—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
The closest thing in effort required is hooking the robot when it’s done, emptying out its filter basket and putting it back on the charger.
—
Brad Moon,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
In the video, Jessie, who is wearing a blue bikini, puts one foot on her husband's thigh and the other on his shoulder, hooking it around his neck, and stands up steadily while flashing her arm muscles at the camera.
—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
While hooking paying customers remains a challenge for most of the AI industry, Grok stands out as a particularly terrible performer.
—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
14 May 2026
Devon Toews was called for a hooking penalty, giving Minnesota 63 seconds of 4-on-3 power-play time.
—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Mason McTavish’s hooking minor proved costly as the Oilers scored just four seconds into the penalty.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
By hooking a solo shot around the Pesky Pole, the lefty swinger finally hit his first dinger of the year off Boston southpaw Payton Tolle.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooking
Verb
-
Cat care also has a physical component, including bending to scoop litter and navigating a pet that can sometimes get underfoot, creating a fall risk.
-
Fatigue damage is the bridge version of bending a paper clip back and forth.
Verb
-
For that reason, executive travel remains essential for driving high-stakes deals forward, securing major partnerships, connecting with suppliers, and building trust through face-to-face interactions.
-
By connecting the mid-June high with the action from early June, a clear potential cup-and-handle pattern begins to emerge.
Verb
-
As the berries begin to ripen, cover the pots with netting to keep birds and other animals from stealing your harvest.
-
The technology’s ability to reduce theft and fraud is especially intriguing, given the crimes are not generally a person or group simply stealing freight.
Verb
-
Farage, Reform’s attention-grabbing but divisive leader, was a curiously low-key presence.
-
With that in mind, if the Pacers want to acquire a draft pick, following their past and grabbing one in the 30s makes good sense.
Verb
-
The innovative Panoramic Display consists of a 48-inch screen curving from door to door along the base of the windshield.
-
Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon that occurs when an object of great mass comes between Earth and a distant background source, curving the fabric of spacetime.
Verb
-
Choose grasses with tall, arching stems to set off the upright dahlia form.
-
Lower back discomfort or tightness might be due to arching of your back, or your back muscles tacking on too much of the work to overcompensate for a lack of hip strength or control.
Verb
-
Segregation laws prevented Black students from integrating into Euless schools in 1950.
-
Spotify's landmark partnership with FC Barcelona reimagined traditional sports sponsorship by integrating artists directly into the club's global platform.
Verb
-
The Red Sox stole three bases in the game, with Durbin swiping two.
-
Even swiping and inserting chip cards take too long, with customer moving to tap and Apple pay instead.
Cite this Entry
“Hooking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooking. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
