KNEW Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

knew

verb

Definition of knew

past tense of know

as in understood

to have a practical understanding of a career diplomat who knows several languages a fan who really knows baseball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in experienced

to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it knows full well how nerve-racking it can be to speak in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in saw

to have a clear idea of I think I know what you're trying to say

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 knew Bella chews him out for punching Angus in the face right before Angus’s big presentation, which Johnny knew about because they were supposed to throw a return supper for him, a dinner Johnny was supposed to cook. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026 Drivers knew the back entrances, the factory layouts, and the best path to the boss of a mom-and-pop workshop. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Royal expert Ingrid Seward, who knew Diana and whose latest book, Catherine and Diana, chronicles the lives of the Princesses of Wales, believes the battle to control Diana’s legacy will continue beyond next year’s milestone anniversary. — Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026 His reputation, after all, was as one of the great defensive minds in the modern history of college football, a coach who, at Texas Christian, knew how to get more out of lesser talent. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The record can also establish when events occurred and who knew about them. — William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 In November 2024, my daughter knew that a sorority sister had accused fraternity members of gang-raping her. — Jennifer Obel, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 People knew him as the guy who vehemently opposed NAFTA, who showed up on picket lines, who only wore suits made in Ohio. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026 The group knew that for many listeners outside Japan, this wouldn’t simply be a new single. — Crystal Bell, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

And the latest archaeoacoustic techniques show that even the world’s earliest architects understood this.

— Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
That leaves room for disputes in which both sides agree the job began as at will but disagree about what was understood later.

— William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

In 2025, the first chime of bells from a mountain pavilion at dawn, accompanied by a gentle morning greeting, creates a space where each collection is experienced independently and explores the versatile expressions of Songmont’s design language.

— Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
This online abuse and hostility experienced by trans people in the UK is part of a broader picture of the UK becoming a hostile climate for trans people.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of experienced

Verb

My suite was beyond spacious, with a full entryway with desk and wetbar giving way to a seating area; large, plush bed; then a closet and vanity area leading into a massive bathroom—which had a full soaking tub and two pedestal sinks.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The Boss Bottled Beyond fragrance had an avant-première in travel retail, for example.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of had

Verb

Curie's initial Nobel was for physics, but the second, for chemistry in 1911, recognized her work on polonium and the isolation of pure radium.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
He is recognized as the teen prodigy who went missing a decade prior, and his return as an up-and-coming conductor is heralded.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

The rooms are beautifully laid out and share the peacefulness felt throughout the property.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Our target consumer is anyone who is tired of endless scrolling, has ever felt that conventional recommendations don’t quite understand them, or finds today’s personalization systems too opaque or even a little creepy.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of felt

Verb

But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026
Re-creating the Herculaneum scrolls To date, one entire scroll and passages from others have been deciphered, largely thanks to the Vesuvius Challenge, a project launched in 2023 that encourages researchers to decode scrolls for cash prizes.

— Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of deciphered

Verb

The patient underwent a public health screening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was taken by a friend to Nairobi Hospital, where he was isolated and later transferred to the East Wing Isolation Facility.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Claire underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments to kill the malignant cells in his body, but the cancer returned again in 2017.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of underwent

Cite this Entry

Style

“Knew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knew. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of knew

verb

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