1
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something
my knee knocked against the table leg when I tried to get up quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
threatened to knock him upside the head if he didn't do as he was told
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to blame
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
hey, don't knock it until you've tried it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
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2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
getting his college degree was a six year adventure not without its share of knocks along the way
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in setback
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the geneticist's reputation took a knock when several of his peers were unable to confirm his research findings
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of knock
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
For some Nobel Prize winners this year, the news came with a knock at the door before dawn.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Her husband knocked frames down and fixed the walls, while Donaldson took on taping, filling, sanding and painting.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the movie, though, there’s no door knock.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
For some Nobel Prize winners this year, the news came with a knock at the door before dawn.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
-
The Jays needed to navigate a six-man rotation or bump someone from the starting staff.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The Chiefs were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles—at one point, the score was 34–0—and Kelce was spotted on the sidelines screaming at and bumping the Chiefs’ coach, Andy Reid.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fall boating can mean peaceful days on Arkansas' large reservoirs while many hunters begin to hit the woods instead of the water.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Apple’s iPhone surge Shares of Apple surged 4% to hit a new record on Monday after a report of surprisingly strong sales of its new iPhone 17.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But some Republicans blamed Newsom for the freeway closure, calling it an over-reaction.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Now, blaming the shutdown, the Education Department is trying to lay off an additional 465 people, cutting deeply into multiple offices.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The heist deals a huge blow to one of the most popular museums in the world, which houses valuable works like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and has drawn some 9 million visitors in recent years.—
NPR,
NPR,
20 Oct. 2025
-
So, after scans revealed a back injury in July, to be without Cummins’ captaincy for any length of time would represent a considerable blow to his side’s Ashes hopes.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
-
For Rising, his misfortune and some good timing dovetailed to put him here.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The former president’s support comes after Democrats faced critical setbacks in the 2024 election, losing the White House and the Senate.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the apparel industry faced additional setbacks this week.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There are up to 20,000 rabid people raining down their emotions from all angles, a dozen sticks clattering, two dozen skates carving, all those burly bodies bumping into each other and banging into the boards, plus an endless stream of screaming and grunting and cursing.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Vanderbilt played 13 minutes Wednesday before being removed midway through the second quarter with a left quadriceps contusion after banging his left knee with a Mavericks defender.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Payton lit into Moss on the sideline, slapping his clipboard, after the cornerback got a bit too handsy with Giants receiver Beaux Collins in the end zone.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Inside the all-glass DJ booth in the center of the room sits a rubber chicken for Steve (Joe Keery) to slap as a sound effect while Robin (Maya Hawke) spins records.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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