KICKS Synonyms: 224 Similar and Opposite Words

kicks 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of kick

as in complains

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely he's been kicking all week about not getting the promotion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in objects

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

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kicks

2 of 2

noun

plural of kick

as in thrills

a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings I get a kick out of downhill skiing

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as in joys

a source of great satisfaction it was a kick for the parents to see their once-shy son star in a Broadway play

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as in objections

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

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as in collisions

a forceful coming together of two things I felt a kick in my hands as the jackhammer came roaring to life

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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 kicks

Verb

Here's what to know and how to prepare you and your family before the season's peak period kicks into high gear within the next three months. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026 Read kicks this tale off with a meet-cute and an unconventional relationship, but finds authentic emotion and real social issues to power the characters’ journeys forward. — Katie Walsh, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 The idea is apparently that 101 women will dress up like princesses and vie to be Mark’s girlfriend; once the situation becomes predictably awkward, Mark seemingly deems the night a bust and kicks everyone out. — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026 When Schaesta Ama outs him and kicks him out of their home, Payam comes to Mansur’s aide (albeit temporarily) but does not invite him up into his caste for more than an afternoon. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026 And as the partnership kicks into gear, Salomon is focused on its big moment in Kona next year with an event at this year’s championship. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026 The atom kicks itself out of the game The first problem is recoil. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026 Not only is Wilson joining the broadcast to make her picks, but the Grammy-winning artist will also perform the national anthem before the game kicks off and the marching band kicks into gear. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026 Goal kicks and throw-ins Players are expected to keep moving so these restarts happen quickly. — Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Noun

After a few kicks, the attackers finally gave up, leaving with the case of beer on the ground in front of me. — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026 Your friendly neighborhood Lit Hub staff are getting our kicks this week from simple things. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026 But Young has seen Metchie return kicks and punts in the preseason and in the practices leading up to Sunday. — Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026 The Australian Championship, the second tier of the nation’s soccer league system, has introduced a ‘penalty shootout bonus point model’ with regular time draws going directly to spot kicks. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Sanders missed several kicks from under 50 yards during practice. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 New Regency is handling worldwide sales and will begin talks with potential distributors as the fall festival season kicks into gear. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 Evan Frey is the Crusaders’ best cover man who will also return kicks and play wideout. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Sep. 2026 Those whose feet are wont to slip out of their kicks while in motion will be happy to know that the Novablast 6’s tongue and overall construction locks the entire foot in without constriction. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks

Verb

China is demanding the US ease export bans on high-tech goods, like chipmaking gear; the US bitterly complains about Chinese overproduction and transhipment.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
There’ll always be someone who doesn’t like it, who complains about it.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of complains

Verb

In the film’s ostensible present, as the lengthy raid unfolds, a noble, unnamed police constable (Anurag Thakur) objects to his superiors’ methods and their persecution of Devi at large.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026
Today, his lab is building a larger version of the QGI experiment that puts nanodiamonds into the same superposition—objects 10 orders of magnitude heavier than atoms, massive enough to warp spacetime around themselves.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of objects

Noun

These are primal thrills most viewers can get behind, and having to slow down to explain the morality behind them makes for languid viewing.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026
The cars spiral over and under portions of the park’s multilevel escalator, and include four launches, an inverted dive loop, twisted pretzel loop, an inverted stall and other thrills, reaching speed of 72 mph.

— Carole Horst, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of thrills

Noun

Kerly Germain-Carmichael opened up about the joys and struggles of motherhood, saying she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression shortly after having her son in 2022.

— Louisa Moller, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
As the leaves start to don their sienna coats and the mercury drops into the comfortable-sweater- weather range, autumn's many joys come to the fore.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of joys

Noun

The stadium tries to be a good neighbor, despite some objections.

— Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
The film internalizes potential objections about a foreign director making a film that claims insight into Japanese characters’ interiority, with Carter being ritualistically insulted as a gaijin, or outsider.

— Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of objections

Noun

The 209-by-200-foot overpass spans Interstate 25 near the Greenland exit between Larkspur and Monument, an area that has historically seen many wildlife collisions.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
The clubhouse was somewhat somber Friday afternoon, with players still feeling shaken up after witnessing one of the scariest collisions many had ever seen on a baseball field.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of collisions

Verb

Standing in the backyard of a house situated near a neighboring golf course, rider screams are certainly audible, and residents said the consistency of them is destroying their quality of life.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
There were hugs and high fives, and jubilant screams from a winning locker room could be heard clearly in the adjacent news conference room and by anyone walking through the hallway.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of screams

Verb

Copycat protests sprang up in other major Indian cities—Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna—lending the Gen Z protests the aura of a nationwide youth resistance that would humble Modi and force his education minister to resign.

— Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Protest Passion Project The Climb was first unveiled by Beta Cinema at the European Film Market in February 2022, with Delevingne (Carnival Row) attached as a daredevil climber who protests against oil drilling in the Arctic by ascending The Shard.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026