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
Also mentioned is an auto-hitch system to simplify hooking it up to the tow vehicle.
—
New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
The great Amazon in its north drains large areas as does the Parana-River Plate watershed to its south that reaches the Atlantic in the estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, The San Francisco flows north for hundreds of miles before hooking a right and dropping to the Atlantic.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
The Golden Knights got their first power play 5 seconds after their penalty expired as New Jersey's Nico Hischier was whistled for hooking.
—CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
The third came four seconds after the Bruins killed an Eyssimont hooking penalty.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Hahn and Jeff Glaid, the WGFD biologist who conducted the study, told a room full of anglers in 2024 that if regulations didn’t change, and hooking injuries to fish — like bottom jaws torn off and severe scarring — continued, the department would have to start restocking in earnest.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
The rescuer takes two trips, hooking each passenger up to a line, then hoisting them from the beach, the video shows.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
By then Carolina had extended its advantage to two thanks again to Jarvis, who capitalized on the visitors’ third power play – hooking by Jackson LaCombe – with a one-time wrist shot from the right circle for his sixth goal of the season.
—Josh Gross, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
With deals on Apple AirPods, Vera Bradley bags, Neutrogena makeup wipes, and Dreo portable space heaters, Amazon is hooking you up for the fall, winter, and beyond.
—Shalwah Evans, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2026
The great Amazon in its north drains large areas as does the Parana-River Plate watershed to its south that reaches the Atlantic in the estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, The San Francisco flows north for hundreds of miles before hooking a right and dropping to the Atlantic.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
The Golden Knights got their first power play 5 seconds after their penalty expired as New Jersey's Nico Hischier was whistled for hooking.
—CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
The third came four seconds after the Bruins killed an Eyssimont hooking penalty.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Hahn and Jeff Glaid, the WGFD biologist who conducted the study, told a room full of anglers in 2024 that if regulations didn’t change, and hooking injuries to fish — like bottom jaws torn off and severe scarring — continued, the department would have to start restocking in earnest.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
The rescuer takes two trips, hooking each passenger up to a line, then hoisting them from the beach, the video shows.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
By then Carolina had extended its advantage to two thanks again to Jarvis, who capitalized on the visitors’ third power play – hooking by Jackson LaCombe – with a one-time wrist shot from the right circle for his sixth goal of the season.
—Josh Gross, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
With deals on Apple AirPods, Vera Bradley bags, Neutrogena makeup wipes, and Dreo portable space heaters, Amazon is hooking you up for the fall, winter, and beyond.
—Shalwah Evans, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooking
Verb
-
The most unusual, and arguably funniest, photos were of the couple bending over and grabbing each other's heads between their legs, which was midway in the album.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Two of the three acts listed in the rock/alternative category, genre-bending rock artist Ecca Vandal, and Speed, the NSW Music Prize-winning Sydney hardcore act, hail from the land down under.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Before Watson’s game-winner, Murray also conjured one of the weirdest clutch buckets of Denver’s season, scooping up a loose ball that had been stripped away from Aaron Gordon and connecting on an awkward midrange floater before the shot clock buzzer.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The institute offered NuVee early institutional support and mentorship as well as connecting Luna with collaborators at San Diego State University to aid in entrepreneurship and business development.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Jacob Elordi is known for stealing hearts on and off-screen.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Take after the actress by grabbing them in black, or choose from six additional colors, including burgundy and deep brown.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Healthy cooking often boils down to accessibility and convenience; busy lives can leave people grabbing less nutritious alternatives.—
Virginia Willis,
AJC.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The animal's tail is usually held up, with the tip curving downward, and its legs are equally lengthened.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
-
At first glance, the choker reprises the incisions and delicately curving edges meant to evoke Chanel’s distinctive quilting, with a sliding clasp closure to adjust it closely to the neck.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pull your stomach inward toward the spine and hold this position without sagging hips or arching your back.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Shiny and dark evergreen foliage is held aloft on strong, arching stems mottled with purple flecks.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
By integrating regulated on ramp and off ramp flows into its infrastructure, inabit enables companies to manage the full lifecycle of crypto payments and treasury operations without compromising on custody, control, or regulatory alignment.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Schwartz was key to integrating content after Lionsgate’s acquisitions of Artisan Entertainment, Summit Entertainment and Entertainment One.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of swiping like the MetroCards, OMNY Cards are just held to a digital card reader for processing.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In 2025, swiping a plastic rectangle through a card reader feels like an anachronism, but the MetroCard shouldn’t be taken for granted.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hooking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooking. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
