1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he's been kicking all week about not getting the promotion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to object
to present an opposing opinion or argument
fiscal conservatives have already started to kick about the proposed program, claiming it will increase the state's deficit substantially
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrill
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings
I get a kick out of downhill skiing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in joy
a source of great satisfaction
it was a kick for the parents to see their once-shy son star in a Broadway play
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
nowadays there seem to be few words in the dictionary that do not raise a kick from one person or another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things
I felt a kick in my hands as the jackhammer came roaring to life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 kick
David Szondy
march 29, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
The Miami Marlins turned back the clock on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies and presented fans with a throwback uniform to kick start Teal Sundays.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The shrimp were tender with a little char, coated in a garlic chili glaze that added a mild kick without being overwhelming.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick
Verb
The upshot is that the U-2 is still kicking along while its successor has been sitting in museums for three decades.
—David Szondy
march 29, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
The Miami Marlins turned back the clock on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies and presented fans with a throwback uniform to kick start Teal Sundays.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
The six charts below are the team’s passing networks from kick-off to the first substitution in each of their last six games.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The shrimp were tender with a little char, coated in a garlic chili glaze that added a mild kick without being overwhelming.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick
Verb
-
Afterward, a student in the audience complained to his parents that, at the event, the deaths of Palestinian civilians had been characterized as collateral damage—a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the battle against Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The driver and passenger in the BMW complained of pain.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fulton County sought to have the FBI agent who wrote the affidavit testify at Friday’s hearing, but the Justice Department objected and the judge sided with the federal government and quashed the subpoena.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If the novel concerned only these elements—the clash of cultures in a small town, the thrill of the landscape beyond it—readers would still turn the last page with a fruitful, even nourishing, sense of disorientation.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In these sports-centric destinations, the thrills exist inside — and outside — the stadiums and arenas.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My ila facial was pure joy—no painful extraction or aggravating scrubs here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Look for ways to add joy to your life, whether that looks like taking more breaks or weaving artistry into your to-do list.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Thanks to its modular and distinctly unmilitary design, the U-2 fit the bill and sidestepped the Air Force's objections when the command of the operation went to the CIA.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
-
As long as dogs are well cared for, there shouldn’t be any objection.—
Ed Sayres,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And in 2009, collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson killed nine people.—
JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities later said Davide Veglia, 55, of North Miami died after the collision Wednesday night in Biscayne Bay, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The voice-over exchange on racial identity is played as obvious parody — the satire screaming its head off in case anyone should question the play’s point of view.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the winter of 2022, crowds around the globe protested after the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, taken into custody by Iran's morality police for how she was dressed.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
People protested the agency’s deployment, and the city’s cultural corridor near Central Avenue saw many businesses close their doors temporarily.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
