as in to smack
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Recent Examples of kneecap
But in late August, more than 180 current and former FEMA employees signed a public letter to Congress warning that cuts to the agency’s full-time staff risk kneecapping its disaster response capabilities.
—
Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 27 Sep. 2025
There’s No Place Like Venus If or when Earth’s large-scale subduction shuts off in about 3.5 billion years, kneecapping the planet’s ability to bury carbon, Kane and his team’s simulations indicate that the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere will rise anywhere from 0.1 bars to 0.8 bars.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
These tariffs threaten to kneecap an emerging sector of innovation around the world, that is, for the first time, using traditional startup strategies and pathways to innovate, scale and grow.
—Nish Acharya, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
These parole board hearings mark the first time the Menendez brothers — convicted in 1996 for the notorious 1989 murders of their parents — have faced a parole board after their controversial convictions at their second trial, where their defense strategy was kneecapped by the judge.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kneecap
Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 27 Sep. 2025
There’s No Place Like Venus If or when Earth’s large-scale subduction shuts off in about 3.5 billion years, kneecapping the planet’s ability to bury carbon, Kane and his team’s simulations indicate that the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere will rise anywhere from 0.1 bars to 0.8 bars.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
These tariffs threaten to kneecap an emerging sector of innovation around the world, that is, for the first time, using traditional startup strategies and pathways to innovate, scale and grow.
—Nish Acharya, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
These parole board hearings mark the first time the Menendez brothers — convicted in 1996 for the notorious 1989 murders of their parents — have faced a parole board after their controversial convictions at their second trial, where their defense strategy was kneecapped by the judge.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kneecap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kneecap
Verb
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Diaz obliged, but not before smacking an unlucky onlooker with a wayward first attempt, above.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Often, though, the clutter is the point, and you’re smacked with temperamental textures that channel the flippant streak of plunderphonics.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Iowa then got three good looks from the three-point line in the final seconds but couldn't hit the tying shot.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
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Despite their franchise history dating back to the mid-70s (via Kansas City and Colorado), which includes essentially all of the highest-scoring era in league history, the New Jersey Devils have never had a player hit either of the game’s most basic offensive milestones.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Damon has been boxing nearly his entire life.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Doing the little things in practice, in terms of boxing out, in terms of talking, and in terms of being physical with each other.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Rasmus Dahlin and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen weren’t on the same page playing a puck behind the net, and Mavrik Bourque whacked a rebound in with Dahlin as the closest Sabre in coverage.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
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Even where verification was mandated, such as in Taiwan and Singapore, Meta’s systems showed a whack-a-mole effect.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In another funny video, Monroe is seemingly belting out her own high notes before Carey playfully steps out from behind a door, revealing that Monroe was lip-syncing to her mom's iconic voice.—
Ellie Beeck,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
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Malone donned a cowboy hat and blue jeans for the occasion, before belting out the track from Raye’s 1994 album, Extremes.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This lousy wintry Monday came a day after unseasonable severe weather socked the area.—
Laura Bannon,
CBS News,
29 Dec. 2025
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Many of his cases involve wives who were not only unaware of their husband’s crypto dabbling, but when the assets are finally split, can be socked with a massive tax bill from capital gains.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Five players were booked during their defeat to Cameroon, including Foster, who slapped the linesman’s hand twice and screamed in his face in frustration over a decision.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When Dobbins was first injured, a source close to him said the best-case scenario for his return was if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kneecap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kneecap. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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