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
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
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
City News Service, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
These sneaks utilize the latest running innovations to ensure your kicks improve performance while still looking stylish.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2026
Classic Sunday dinner sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn will make great side kicks to the chicken.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Sakurai premiered his new trailer at CinemaCon, with fresh footage that showed plenty of epic kicks, punches and cool moves – as well as a sense of humor – but also showcased the film's emotional story line.
—James Powel, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Kane has also missed two spot kicks this season — against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal in August and Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League in January.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
For more than a decade, that’s made my collection of kicks feel double its actual size, thanks to her generosity and undeniably good taste.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
There’s no shortage of comfy kicks to shop, either.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Dust buildup on your air vents and returns circulates allergens throughout your entire home every time your HVAC kicks on.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
In all, there were a total of 65 kicks to the victim’s head, Sapolu testified.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
These sneaks utilize the latest running innovations to ensure your kicks improve performance while still looking stylish.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2026
Classic Sunday dinner sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn will make great side kicks to the chicken.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Sakurai premiered his new trailer at CinemaCon, with fresh footage that showed plenty of epic kicks, punches and cool moves – as well as a sense of humor – but also showcased the film's emotional story line.
—James Powel, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Kane has also missed two spot kicks this season — against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal in August and Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League in January.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
For more than a decade, that’s made my collection of kicks feel double its actual size, thanks to her generosity and undeniably good taste.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
There’s no shortage of comfy kicks to shop, either.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks
Verb
-
The narrator in Pseudo-Quintilian’s fiction complains of the unfairness of the bout.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
For example, when Jehosheba complains that her Martha slacks off when her dad is out of town, Daisy infers that the Commander made a visit to the Colonies.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Understanding and identifying activity helps scientists better understand how these objects change over time.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The sights, sounds and thrills of NASCAR auto racing are returning to Kansas Speedway for the first major motorsports weekend of 2026 in KC.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
-
While the area can provide plenty of thrills, Fayetteville’s quieter features are often overlooked.—
Jordan Charbonneau,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Co-created with local parents and their young children, the show explores the joys and impermanence of raising children, carrying children through life and witnessing a child’s journey.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Lane was gifted with that kind of face and personality, too, replete with diagonal eyebrows that join his cheekbones in a quizzical demeanor that, throughout his career, has signaled the joys of life.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most School Board members had at least some objections to the cuts, but Adam Cervera was particularly critical, saying the cuts focused more rank-and-file employees than high-level leaders.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Elliott had started self-distributing the film over objections from the distributor to wait.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
None of the four fatal crashes occurred within the project’s limits, but four separate collisions in the half-mile stretch have killed people since 2017.—
Chris Fusco. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Airport officials didn't respond immediately to questions about what happened and what procedures are in place to prevent collisions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Algerio screams at the suspect.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
He is obsessed with gold, because gold screams money to the masses.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
13 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 25 Apr. 2026.
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