1
as in complains
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrills
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings
I get a kick out of downhill skiing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in collisions
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
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Recent Examples of kicks
Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
As the month unfolds, your curiosity kicks into high gear with Mars and Mercury moving through Aries and your third house of ideas.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
In the video, Mortensen films as Paul hits and kicks him.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The female security guard moves past the male security guard and kicks the young woman in the head.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
The band kicks things off in Mexico on March 15, and will hit Medellín, Barcelona, London, and Milan before coming back stateside.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Quiche is a classic Easter brunch dish, but this recipe kicks things up a notch with the addition of crispy hash browns, bacon, and bright asparagus.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Ramona Girls soccer After the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead in sudden-death penalty kicks, the junior keeper blocked a University City shot to give Ramona the victory in the section Division 3 title game.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
On Wednesday, Group C kicks of with Japan against Taiwan and Vietnam against India in Perth.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Riley didn’t return kicks last season but led the team in rushing with 1,145 yards.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Best Spring Mule and Slide Deals on Amazon Mules and slides make up an underrated, cool-girl category of kicks that’s set to get a lot of airtime this spring.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Hundreds of students streamed through the cafeteria of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School on Thursday, showing off new kicks, books, and bright smiles.
—Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers pro-baller and Adidas are collaborating with the rapper's brand, The Marathon Clothing, with the release of the royal blue Harden Volume 10 kicks, according to a press release from Adidas.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Depends on the song or the genre, but Steely Dan has great kicks.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
After a barrage of punches, kicks, and throws—all set to a Limp Bizkit song—the 72-year-old flexes his muscles while flames shoot out around him.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
As spring break kicks into high gear, the federal government is reportedly considering closures of smaller airports.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
Apple kicks vibe coding app out of App Store, escalating crackdown.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
As the month unfolds, your curiosity kicks into high gear with Mars and Mercury moving through Aries and your third house of ideas.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
In the video, Mortensen films as Paul hits and kicks him.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The female security guard moves past the male security guard and kicks the young woman in the head.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
The band kicks things off in Mexico on March 15, and will hit Medellín, Barcelona, London, and Milan before coming back stateside.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Quiche is a classic Easter brunch dish, but this recipe kicks things up a notch with the addition of crispy hash browns, bacon, and bright asparagus.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Ramona Girls soccer After the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead in sudden-death penalty kicks, the junior keeper blocked a University City shot to give Ramona the victory in the section Division 3 title game.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
On Wednesday, Group C kicks of with Japan against Taiwan and Vietnam against India in Perth.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Mother Road, as author John Steinbeck dubbed it, has evolved over the years from an escape for poor farmers fleeing the devastating dust storms of the 1930s to perhaps the quintessential American road trip that’s still delivering kicks.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Riley didn’t return kicks last season but led the team in rushing with 1,145 yards.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Best Spring Mule and Slide Deals on Amazon Mules and slides make up an underrated, cool-girl category of kicks that’s set to get a lot of airtime this spring.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Hundreds of students streamed through the cafeteria of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School on Thursday, showing off new kicks, books, and bright smiles.
—Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers pro-baller and Adidas are collaborating with the rapper's brand, The Marathon Clothing, with the release of the royal blue Harden Volume 10 kicks, according to a press release from Adidas.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Depends on the song or the genre, but Steely Dan has great kicks.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
After a barrage of punches, kicks, and throws—all set to a Limp Bizkit song—the 72-year-old flexes his muscles while flames shoot out around him.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
As spring break kicks into high gear, the federal government is reportedly considering closures of smaller airports.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks
Verb
-
Out of innumerable likely topics, Maher complains about folks who defend cats.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
At one point in the documentary, Suga, one of the group’s rappers, complains that there is too much English on the album.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The space station circles our planet at an altitude referred to as low-Earth orbit, which is closer to Earth's atmosphere and allows the outpost to move more quickly around Earth than objects further out in space.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Congress is on a two-week recess, but the Senate and House could move to fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP as early as Thursday using a procedure known as unanimous consent that allows the chambers to circumvent formal voting as long as no member objects.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For big city thrills with a cool neighbourhood feel.—
Siobhan Grogan,
TheWeek,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Correspondent Lee Cowan looks at the history of Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer's song, which expresses the thrills, fun and romance of baseball.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But this celebration of the joys (and practical value) of gardening is also laced with comedy, as Galifianakis cracks plenty of jokes with the experts and kids joining him amongst the greenery.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Barr opened up about her move to Texas and the joys she's experienced since making the lifestyle change and being outdoors in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Parliament Speaker Aung Lin Dwe said the appointments of 30 ministers were approved with no objections.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Since the initial news of Gatewood’s filing with the IG, speculation regarding the content of the complaint has focused on ShotSpotter, the gunshot-detection technology formerly employed in parts of the city, which Johnson ended in the fall of 2024 over the objections of a majority of aldermen.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin appeared to get banged up from a series of collisions and was in obvious pain on the bench in the second.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Sadly, it’s estimated that more than 100 million to one billion birds die every year in collisions with manmade structures.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Playful, candy-colored, and instantly recognizable, the print screams Y2K princess energy, with endless variations to match.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Woman, Life, Freedom protests The 2020 election of Joe Biden led to tentative efforts to restore the JCPOA, but any progress made was squashed by the 2021 election of hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Then that correction gets a correction from Andy, who protests that Lisa was really only a villain her last year of Housewives.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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