HOOKS Synonyms: 293 Similar and Opposite Words

hooks 1 of 2

noun

plural of hook

as in punches

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

hooks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hook

as in bends

to cause to turn away from a straight line the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in connects

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

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as in steals

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

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as in grabs

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it

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as in curves

to turn away from a straight line or course hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straightens

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 hooks

Noun

Wor$t Girl embraces dirt and dark thoughts alongside abrasive tones, giving its euphoric hooks weight, as though a wild night out is almost crucial to the artist’s well-being. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026 Home plate umpire and crew chief Doug Eddings issued the hooks after José Caballero was caught stealing second on a bang-bang, strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026 Side 1 of Dance To The Music opens with the title track, a three-minute blitz of hooks that landed the Family Stone on the pop charts. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 7 July 2026 Designed with hooks for necklaces, compartments for rings, and slots for earrings, these organizers keep each piece secure and separated throughout your trip. — Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 And a third key was for Gaethje to throw jabs and get Topuria’s weight on his back foot, so Gaethje could find an opening with hooks over Topuria’s front shoulder. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 July 2026 Entryway shelves and hooks are perfect for storing outdoor gear. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Don’t miss this mirror with hooks that’ll look perfect in your entryway. — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 The bone conduction headphones have ergonomic ear hooks to provide a comfortable and secure fit. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Verb

Ceiling hooks for fishing rods, cargo door for two bikes, spray hose for cleaning gear and heated locker for drying it. — Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026 How Many Calories Rucking Burns The calorie math is what hooks many newcomers, particularly men in their 40s trying to recapture lost ground. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026 Armour hooks my arm, and the panic abates. — Adam Erace, Fortune, 24 May 2026 Marketing experts say while more and more cash is flowing into the clip-ification of all things, those watching the content can view clips as cheap and disposable moments, not something that hooks someone on a show or internet personality. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 May 2026 Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026 Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, questioned Mosseri on Wednesday about whether Instagram chooses profits over the health and safety of minors and whether Mosseri oversees an app that hooks younger users. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026 The cat who reaches through the kennel bars and hooks a paw around your finger. — Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026 Aussie newcomer Yerin Ha is the juggernaut's new leading lady—a strong yet soft pragmatist whose quiet charisma hooks Benedict, the ton, and, soon enough, audiences everywhere. — InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooks

Noun

There was a June 1977 friendly in Buenos Aires where punches were thrown and players were ejected.

— Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026
But the Azteca started to change that, with that long second half rearguard, the deep 5-3-1, those endless headers and blocks and punches.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

Oceania Allura berths at Moll Adossat, 10 minutes from La Rambla, but the day here bends away from the boulevard.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
The sporting goods powerhouse considered new details, from certain silhouettes creating unwanted tan lines to the way a skirt drapes when a woman bends over to pick up her tee.

— Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of bends

Verb

The design connects both MSR units to an integrated Energy Storage System (ESS) using a parallel power-sharing configuration.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Stockman further enhances that shaded footprint with a zip-in panel that connects the two individual side awnings into a complete 360-degree setup comparable to models on offer by Bundutec and Naturnest.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 July 2026

Definition of connects

Verb

John Legend steals the show at the 2026 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on July 9.

— People Staff, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Adebayo ranks second in franchise history in all-time points scored (10,391 points) and total rebounds grabbed (5,756 rebounds), third in all-time assists (2,276 assists) and steals (693), and fifth in all-time blocks (538 blocks).

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026

Definition of steals

Verb

The company said its proprietary data asset grabs millions of live data points across tens of thousands of factories and suppliers.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 July 2026
Objects d’art In the living room, a vintage motorcycle immediately grabs visitors’ attention.

— Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026

Definition of grabs

Verb

Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.

— David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
Phoebe Philo’s version, a backless white tank with a dramatic ruffle that curves across the waist and up the shoulder blades transforms the silhouette into an avant-garde sculpture.

— Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 June 2026

Definition of curves

Noun

In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
One way to look at the Washington Nationals’ kick-in-the-groin sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees — three leads in the eighth inning, three dizzying losses — is that none of the previous blows this team has taken have permanently felled it.

— Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of blows

Verb

As the piano arches into a sparkling glissando, a harp follows suit, carving out space for a light, airy synthesizer drone to materialize.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
My friend also recommends the Hoka Clifton style, which takes pressure off your heels and arches thanks to the rocker-style sole.

— Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 11 July 2026