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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of knock
Jay Harris, New York Times, 1 May 2025
During the intense moment, she was knocked to the floor.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
The Dutchman has struggled for regular top form and to find his best position, while also spending much of 2024 sidelined through an ankle knock.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Marcus Rashford knocked the ball past Udogie but Van de Ven darted over to intercept it.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 1 May 2025
During the intense moment, she was knocked to the floor.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
The knock was lined toward Jazz Chisholm Jr., but the second baseman appeared to take his eye off the ball with the splintered barrel of Rocchio’s bat flying in his general direction.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
The Dutchman has struggled for regular top form and to find his best position, while also spending much of 2024 sidelined through an ankle knock.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
-
The overall contract minimum has been bumped to $65,000 with an additional $1,000 increase to all minimums in Year 2 and Year 3.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
7 May 2025
-
Columnist Sean Keller never mentioned that the Stars’ second goal came off the side of an Avalanche skate as the puck bumped it and sent it in sideways to the net.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
7 May 2025
Verb
-
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winning shot, crossing over Antetokounmpo and driving to the basket for a right-handed layup with 1.3 seconds left.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
-
Colombia’s exports hit $10.7 million in 2024, according to Colombian tax authority data.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Economists are clashing over whether the $20 wage is to blame.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
-
In October, the gang was blamed for killing more than 70 people in Pont-Sondé, the biggest massacre in Haiti’s recent history.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
What’s 42 to 43? Into a black place of great blows from the little mountains from the sea came.—
John Berryman,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
-
With a blow of his whistle, all sorts of words applied: pandemonium, euphoria, mania.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Video Player 00:00 00:00 The numbers support the notion that there’ some misfortune at play.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2025
-
In Lao culture, splashing friends and strangers with water symbolizes washing away the past year’s misfortunes and inviting good health, wealth and luck.—
Christopher Torres,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Both those outcomes would be a major setback for those who want to see promotion and relegation at the top level of the American game.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
Transgender troops The Supreme Court dealt a setback to transgender service members on Tuesday.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
7 May 2025
Verb
-
That’s when residents all over the city threw open their windows and climbed onto fire escapes, clapping, banging pots and pans, and shouting at full volume to salute the health care workers who were battling a novel coronavirus that had overrun the city.—
Christina Ray Stanton,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2025
-
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Smith banged his wrist while tagging out Ian Happ at a play at the plate.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Local News In 2020, Jennifer Vasquez alleged he was kicked, slapped and shoved by husband In a 2020 protective order, Jennifer Vasquez alleged that her husband verbally abused, kicked, slapped, and shoved her.—
Mikenzie Frost,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
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The film, a part of the sprawling Marvel franchise, was approved for release in China before Washington and Beijing slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on each other.—
Casey Hall and Sophie Yu,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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