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.
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Recent Examples of hooks
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
While the British singer’s longing vocals and smooth hooks take obvious cues from ’90s and 2000s’ R&B, her bouncy and moody SoCal sound aligns her with the present.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
The kit is intended for beginner crocheters and includes yarn, needles, custom eyes that can be installed in the plush toy, and Derpy and Sussie-themed crochet hooks.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
There are also lots of spots where writers lived and worked, including the homes of Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Colson Whitehead, bell hooks, June Jordan, and Zora Neale Hurston.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
While some shower curtains come with their own hooks, others require you to have them on hand or buy separately.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 Feb. 2026
Whistles with strings and whistles with hooks to clip onto key chains.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The all-in-one design incorporates hooks, a hanging rod, and shelves, and can hold up to 30 pounds of jackets, bags, shoes, and more.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026
After all, most of the time, only one towel is needed, and if there is a lack of under-sink storage and no square footage for a bin or basket, hooks can be added to hang them.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
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
This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Install hooks either on the wall or over the back of the door to keep bags in check.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
In contrast to AirPods, these headphones feature a sleek design that hooks over the ear and can be adjusted to ensure an extra secure grip.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
A number of conservative commentators, including Roger Kimball, Peter Wood, and Chris Rufo, maintain that political conformity overtook élite institutions of higher learning and turned every seminar room into some radical struggle session where students dutifully read Karl Marx and bell hooks.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
While the British singer’s longing vocals and smooth hooks take obvious cues from ’90s and 2000s’ R&B, her bouncy and moody SoCal sound aligns her with the present.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
The kit is intended for beginner crocheters and includes yarn, needles, custom eyes that can be installed in the plush toy, and Derpy and Sussie-themed crochet hooks.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
There are also lots of spots where writers lived and worked, including the homes of Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Colson Whitehead, bell hooks, June Jordan, and Zora Neale Hurston.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
While some shower curtains come with their own hooks, others require you to have them on hand or buy separately.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 Feb. 2026
Whistles with strings and whistles with hooks to clip onto key chains.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The all-in-one design incorporates hooks, a hanging rod, and shelves, and can hold up to 30 pounds of jackets, bags, shoes, and more.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026
After all, most of the time, only one towel is needed, and if there is a lack of under-sink storage and no square footage for a bin or basket, hooks can be added to hang them.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Install hooks either on the wall or over the back of the door to keep bags in check.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
In contrast to AirPods, these headphones feature a sleek design that hooks over the ear and can be adjusted to ensure an extra secure grip.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooks
Noun
-
Its lacing system moves away from traditional hole punches for all but its two upper eyestays, with the rest replaced by cord loops that allow for a more personalized fit.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This modest but super-smart production punches way above its weight.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Where the vortex bends southward, cold air follows.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
9 Feb. 2026
-
This orbit allowed the spacecraft to pass behind Jupiter relative to Earth, creating a rare opportunity to study how the planet’s atmosphere bends radio signals.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The best accounting software connects to your bank accounts, business credit cards and payroll services to automate expense tracking and ensure accuracy.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Back inside, a casual dining area connects to a sleek kitchen outfitted with Jerusalem limestone floors, Brazilian granite countertops, a breakfast bar, and a walk-in pantry.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Anthony may first settle into seasons of roughly 18-22 homers with mid-teens steals before any full breakout, meaning current drafters are paying for future peak production rather than present skills.—
Derek VanRiper,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS VICTORY LAP — Tyler Reddick steals Daytona 500 win in wild last-lap shootout.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Soon thereafter, a gear fishing pal of yours gifted you an old, unused fly rod, and that totally grabs a hold of you and completely directs the rest of your life.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The man grabs her and also takes her cell phone.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What makes barrel jeans popular is their wide, tapered fit that curves out around the mid-leg and then cinches in at the ankle.—
India Roby,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The path begins in Siberia, curves around the North Pole past Greenland and Iceland, then crosses Spain before ending in the Mediterranean sunset.—
Ryan Craggs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the first half, both teams traded blows, with the largest lead being seven by the Bulldogs.—
Mukala Kabongo,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
He is seen performing first aid, administering back blows to the infant to remove the blockage.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, look to modern lattices, scallops, and arches for a timeless feel that’s still up to date.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Note, however, the Vision XL is also essentially one big 10-in-tall block with a completely flat roof, whereas some hardshell RTTs, including the Skycamp, have roof designs with a high point that arches down toward the front and/or back.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooks. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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