kicker

noun

Definition of kickernext
1
as in surprise

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in quibbler

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 kicker The Dolphins auditioned veteran NFL kicker Daniel Carlson on Tuesday. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026 Even amid Tuesday’s trade deadline chaos, the Falcons found time to cut the 41-year-old kicker. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 11 Nov. 2026 Moody joined the Ravens' practice squad twice this season as the team looked for competition for struggling kicker Tyler Loop. — Cbs Baltimore, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026 From there, the Bears ran down the clock and lined up a 38-yard field goal that kicker Cairo Santos knocked through as time expired for the victory. — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kicker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicker
  1. surprise
  2. nitpicker
  3. kick
  4. crock
  5. revelation
  6. objector
  7. disclosure
  8. pessimist
Noun
  • His victory was seen as a bit of a surprise, as forecasters like the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball placed the race in their Lean Republican categories.
    — Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Then again, the trade deadline usually has one or two big surprises.
    — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • Alas, nitpickers can point to some moves in which Atlanta went backward.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • Maybe that’s why, compared with some other kinds of nitpickers, pop critics can seem especially extraneous.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of nitpicker
Noun
  • DiLeva was good on kicks from 42 and 34 yards in the second half.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2026
  • Kansas seized the momentum from the opening kick, getting help from an interception by linebacker Trey Lathan — a former West Virginia player — on the Mountaineers' second play from scrimmage.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2026
Definition of kick
Noun
  • Blessed with a crock of gold to choose from, Clarke pared the track list down to three LPs’ worth of music, with songs from every point of MacGowan’s career performed by a roster of artists who appreciate MacGowan’s musical perspective.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2026
  • From trays and storage racks to portable carts, utensil crocks, countertop canisters, and more, shop our top picks below that can tidy up your space and double as decor, starting at $8.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of crock
Noun
  • But the revelation of Huang’s relationship with a woman who US officials have said is a Chinese asset has cast a dark cloud over Huang and the company.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026
  • At the servant’s execution, Belzagar tells Eärien that there’s soon to be some kind of action against the Faithful in the West, a revelation that Eärien can’t know will soon seal her fate.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of revelation
Noun
  • The attorneys who presented the Wilson campaign’s challenges also delivered a challenge against Kelly, attributed to objector Gary Hail.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • After a two-year National Service stint as a hospital orderly (thanks to his own conscientious-objector status), Hockney landed at the Royal College of Art, in London, in the fall of 1959.
    — Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
Definition of objector
Noun
  • Normalize options for flexibility, workload reduction or time away without requiring unnecessary disclosure.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Tennessee law prohibits the public disclosure of any individual or entity involved in procuring lethal substances or carrying out executions.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of disclosure
Noun
  • Optimists and pessimists can see the same problem, Gielan explains.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Being the unintentional voice of political pessimism can make a person something of a pessimist.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of pessimist

Browse Nearby Words

kicked upstairs
kicker
kickers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicker. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on kicker

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kicker

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lissome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All