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
1
as in bends
to cause to turn away from a straight line
the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in curves
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 hooks
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
With its shout-along hooks and pop drama, Jack Antonoff’s latest isn’t so different from the others, but his myopic views on modern life and celebrity are becoming harder to bear.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 May 2026
But Apple reserved the deepest iPhone integrations — notifications, payments, health data, system hooks — for itself.
—Matt Rogers, Fortune, 30 May 2026
This is where Coleman works out the melodies and hooks for songs, which his friend since fifth grade, Michael Finster—who kids know as Bearhead—then produces to make the finished pieces.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 29 May 2026
Each of these vendors has its own version of the organizational context story, backed by years of customer data and deep integration hooks.
—Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
This magnetic organizer holds Stanley cups and large tumblers with five hooks at the bottom for accessories and other kitchen tools.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
For the anglers, the concession will offer hooks, weights and rigs, and bait.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Racer Blue hits will also fill in the hooks of the sneaker’s support straps, while the heel pull tab is filled in with orange.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
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
Start with your transformation story that hooks from line one.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Unable to deal with Max any longer, Nathan asks Joe to send Max down and hooks the Jet Ski to the crane himself.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
If the ball hooks or drops, Arvada West might have have celebrated a state title three decades in the making.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
With its shout-along hooks and pop drama, Jack Antonoff’s latest isn’t so different from the others, but his myopic views on modern life and celebrity are becoming harder to bear.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 May 2026
But Apple reserved the deepest iPhone integrations — notifications, payments, health data, system hooks — for itself.
—Matt Rogers, Fortune, 30 May 2026
This is where Coleman works out the melodies and hooks for songs, which his friend since fifth grade, Michael Finster—who kids know as Bearhead—then produces to make the finished pieces.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 29 May 2026
Each of these vendors has its own version of the organizational context story, backed by years of customer data and deep integration hooks.
—Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
This magnetic organizer holds Stanley cups and large tumblers with five hooks at the bottom for accessories and other kitchen tools.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
For the anglers, the concession will offer hooks, weights and rigs, and bait.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Racer Blue hits will also fill in the hooks of the sneaker’s support straps, while the heel pull tab is filled in with orange.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Verb
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
Start with your transformation story that hooks from line one.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Unable to deal with Max any longer, Nathan asks Joe to send Max down and hooks the Jet Ski to the crane himself.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooks
Noun
-
Rhodes peppered Gunther with punches, a bionic elbow and a Pedigree for a nearfall.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Stockstill was throwing punches, but not connecting.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Every deployment contributes to future capability, which means the value curve bends upward with time rather than flattening.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
-
Seay bends down in the hallway and leans in.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Over the past two centuries, soccer – or football, as it is called in much of the English-speaking world – has become a truly global phenomenon that connects fans on all continents.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
The platform connects hirers with more than 21 million job seekers each month and 80% of companies that post on ZipRecruiter report receiving a quality candidate within one day.—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Also for Task, Ingelsby required another actor to match Ruffalo and play Robbie, a thief who only steals for criminals.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
-
But Borgo Egnazia steals the show.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Kennedy then pins the snake’s head and grabs it by the mouth, avoiding any potential venomous bites.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
Davis grabs two suitcases off the belt, pulls out a handheld computer that looks like an extra-rugged iPad, and scans the bar codes on the luggage tags.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The dials are all adorned with a railway minute track that curves around every petal to accentuate the flower’s form.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
-
The Page style has a narrow slingback strap, a slim stiletto heel and an open front that curves into a small, petal-like peep-toe rather than a sharp cutout.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
From there, the two schools traded blows until intermission.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
-
According to the coroner, there was evidence of nine blows to the victim’s head and neck.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Smith arches over the patient, his body an umbrella to protect the wound.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
The protective netting that arches over so many of the roads in the eastern Donbas region – stopping drones in their tracks – is not your friend here, but a limitation on movement.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooks. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
