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

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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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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

Some locations have tables equipped with leash hooks and water bowls. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026 Don’t miss this mirror with hooks that’ll look perfect in your entryway. — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 Entryway shelves and hooks are perfect for storing outdoor gear. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Where possible, keep hooks and brackets facing entirely into your own yard. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 30 June 2026 After all, the only book titled Communion that deserves our attention this week and any week is the one by bell hooks. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 The bone conduction headphones have ergonomic ear hooks to provide a comfortable and secure fit. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 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 All About Love by bell hooks Author bell hooks redefines love as an active practice rooted in care, compassion, and commitment rather than romance or desire. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 June 2026

Verb

Armour hooks my arm, and the panic abates. — Adam Erace, Fortune, 24 May 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooks

Noun

The poster also alleged Martinez was the one acting racist and had thrown the spice tajín in her face before any punches were thrown.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Members of Rita's loyalty program who use the Rita’s Ice app will get double loyalty punches with a purchase of the treat.

— Mike Snider, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

As if the arc of history just naturally bends towards justice without aggrieved people putting pressure on it.

— Sarah Schulman, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
The star crossing in front of the other one brightens and bends the latter object’s light, thereby acting like a giant magnifying glass.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 25 June 2026

Definition of bends

Verb

Or one that connects to all of your system and allows your employes to prompt across all of your data.

— Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Going-to-the-Sun Road, which connects the eastern and western halves of the park, makes the area accessible for those unwilling or unable to explore the backcountry on foot.

— Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

Definition of connects

Verb

John Krasinski stars as a jet-setting art thief who steals priceless paintings to help uncover clues as to the whereabouts of the fabled Fountain of Youth.

— Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Carr is not a point-of-attack defender, gets beat in isolation and doesn’t collect nearly as many steals for a player with his physical gifts.

— Law Murray, New York Times, 27 June 2026

Definition of steals

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

Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026
Despite the blows to Eurovision’s finances and viewership from the boycott, the contest is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026

Definition of blows

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