as in to smack
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Recent Examples of kneecap
The administration has already done away with multiple regulations, effectively kneecapping greenhouse gas regulation.
—
Molly Taft, Wired News, 12 Feb. 2026
One provision could require congressional approval for major regulations – effectively kneecapping agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which can impose costly regulations on businesses in the name of protecting the environment and human health.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2026
Last year, the administration effectively kneecapped three offices meant to protect the public from misconduct: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, and the Immigration Detention Ombudsman.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for kneecap
Molly Taft, Wired News, 12 Feb. 2026
One provision could require congressional approval for major regulations – effectively kneecapping agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which can impose costly regulations on businesses in the name of protecting the environment and human health.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2026
Last year, the administration effectively kneecapped three offices meant to protect the public from misconduct: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, and the Immigration Detention Ombudsman.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for kneecap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kneecap
Verb
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Then reality smacks you in the face.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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That is another area in which dreams smack into the reality of Cuban state, which owns 80% of all arable land.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated March 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Crow-Armstrong had support from his team during Friday’s news conference, where first baseman Michael Busch, manager Craig Counsell, hitting coach Dustin Kelly, assistant hitting coach John Mallee and staff assistant AJ Lewis took in the scene.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
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Alcantara left the mound with a lead, courtesy of the bottom of Miami’s lineup stringing together hits in the second.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As things stand, if the primary election were tomorrow, the two who would advance would be former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, boxing out Democrats.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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Apps like Wanderlog and TripIt help organize without boxing you in.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Thus, the bases were empty when Abreu whacked a double off the wall in left-center, a few feet too short of a second home run.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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With runners on the corners, Martinez whacks a two-run, RBI double to tie it at five.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sophomore Sadie Wyse belted two home runs and drove in five runs to lead La Habra’s softball team past host Canyon 11-9 in the Crestview League on Thursday.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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And in 1929 Chanel designed costumes for Apollon Musagète dancers, whose tunics were belted with Charvet ties.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Labin details the elaborate process of elimination that determines which socks to bring to the festival each year.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
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The makeup department added scars to Shaynak’s knees and legs to reflect his character’s backstory, but the compression socks Shaynak wore were his own.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Airlines across the region, like Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are slapping hefty fuel surcharges on flights; Vietnam and the Philippines are even weighing whether to ground planes.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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This month, the influential environmental group Conservation Colorado filed ballot measures with the state elections office that would slap stricter penalties on the energy industry for the pollution and contamination that result from its operations.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In an email sent to families on Tuesday afternoon, the Park Hill School District identified Walker as the woman killed in the crash that left four other teenagers injured.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
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Air Canada said Tuesday that six of the 39 people who were injured remain hospitalized.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kneecap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kneecap. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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