kicker

noun

Definition of kickernext
1
as in surprise

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2
as in quibbler

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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 Robert Czeremcha returns as the starting kicker after only missing one kick in 2025, while punter Trey Wilhoit serves as a weapon that can flip field position. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Sayeri wasn’t going to get the job last year until former Nevada Las Vegas kicker and freshman All-American Caden Chittenden got injured and relinquished it with Sayeri’s strong play. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 The Ravens, however, have consistently supported Loop and downplayed the need to bring in another kicker. — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Former kicker Chris Freeman signed with the Houston Texans earlier this week. — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 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
  • While Harry and Meghan’s decision is a surprise to many, royal historian Ed Owens said recent events created a pathway for the couple's return.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For Lush’s head of concepts and collaborations Kalem Brinkworth, the intensity of the group’s fandom was a surprise.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 21 Aug. 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
  • Once known for his fierce striking, power leg kicks, wheel kicks and punches.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Kamaru Usman racked up 15 straight wins before getting knocked out by a stunning last-minute head kick by Leon Edwards in 2022.
    — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of kick
Noun
  • What To Store On Your Counter Utensil Crock Keep a utensil crock next to your cooktop for making meal prep a breeze.
    — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 31 July 2026
  • In this rustic kitchen, the visual weight of the two breadboards balances the strong visual presence of the white crock.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2026
Definition of crock
Noun
  • The revelations hinge, unsurprisingly, on a cruel double standard in the ways humans and toons are treated.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That detail — and revelations that Mangione’s private writings lambasted health insurers as greedy, according to authorities — made the case a fulcrum for debate about the industry and made Mangione a cause célèbre for some of its critics.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of revelation
Noun
  • The process involves a series of hearings in which election judges review signatures one-by-one, and typically requires the objector and the candidate to hire an attorney.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 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
  • Firms may also face reputational risk from participation, along with disclosure and insurance concerns.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Independent political committees have spent more than $25 million to influence this year’s elections in Georgia, already surpassing the total spent during the 2022 midterms, new campaign disclosures show.
    — David Wickert, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of disclosure
Noun
  • But even a pessimist then wouldn’t have predicted a plummet in production to this extent two years later.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Though the pessimists should be considered carefully, the latest Nobel laureates—awarded their prizes for their on work long-term growth—are optimistic.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of pessimist

Browse Nearby Words

kicked upstairs
kicker
kickers
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Cite this Entry

“Kicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicker. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on kicker

Nglish: Translation of kicker for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kicker

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