Synonyms of knock

knock 1 of 5

verb (1)

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

• bump
• bang
• slam
• smash
• collide
• hit
• crash
• ram
• impinge
• swipe
• impact
• strike
• thud
• bash
• bounce
• scrape
• glance
• skip
• contact
• rebound
• push
• sweep
• brush
• touch
• ricochet
• kiss
• land
• nudge
• shave
• clunk
• graze
• skim
• jostle
• muscle
• carom
• bulldoze
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• skirt

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

• hit
• slap
• smack
• punch
• slam
• bang
• strike
• whack
• clap
• swipe
• pound
• crack
• bat
• kick
• clip
• thump
• box
• nail
• bash
• shove
• hammer
• tap
• lick
• push
• swat
• poke
• clock
• zap
• clobber
• bludgeon
• smite
• chop
• jab
• thwack
• slug
• stab
• tag
• bop
• flick
• clout
• sock
• bob
• bonk
• belt
• bump
• rap
• wallop
• bust
• paste
• stroke
• beat
• slog
• whale
• biff
• pummel
• rough
• maul
• hang one on
• pepper
• knee
• scuff
• lambast
• batter
• slash
• drub
• bung
• mangle
• fell
• dump
• butt
• cuff
• stamp
• jostle
• pelt
• whip
• lambaste
• lash
• buffet
• deck
• floor
• cream
• bunt
• knock down
• switch
• cane
• lace
• pommel
• prod
• conk
• spear
• brain
• club
• cudgel
• sap
• level
• thrash
• bowl (down or over)
• flog
• bean
• flail
• sucker punch
• sledge
• skull
• sledgehammer
• rabbit-punch

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blame
• criticize
• fault
• condemn
• denounce
• attack
• slam
• kick
• find fault (with)
• scold
• pan
• diss
• slag
• slash
• tweak
• complain
• censure
• blast
• lash
• come down hard (on)
• dis
• take to task
• dispraise
• reprehend
• clobber
• assail
• admonish
• grumble
• whine
• mutter
• bitch
• murmur
• moan
• snipe (at)
• beef
• berate
• growl
• nick (at)
• skewer
• chide
• reprimand
• hammer
• grouse
• crucify
• cavil
• disparage
• rebuke
• quibble
• deride
• gripe
• crab
• belittle
• flay
• upbraid
• reproach
• carp
• decry
• croak
• lambast
• excoriate
• reprove
• castigate
• bellyache
• drub
• keelhaul
• kvetch
• niggle
• pillory
• fuss
• bad-mouth
• lambaste
• put down
• discommend
• gibbet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• extol
• laud
• approve
• recommend
• commend
• extoll
• endorse
• sanction
• indorse

knock

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

gave the door a good knock

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• hit
• thump
• slap
• punch
• whack
• thud
• swipe
• stroke
• smack
• pound
• poke
• lick
• bang
• slam
• beat
• spank
• kick
• clap
• hook
• switch
• chop
• smash
• clip
• crack
• swat
• bat
• pick
• lash
• sock
• bash
• box
• belt
• cuff
• hack
• pelt
• slug
• bop
• thwack
• knee
• haymaker
• wham
• bust
• pounding
• biff
• stripe
• buffet
• fillip
• rap
• plump
• wallop
• clout
• dab
• douse
• swing
• welt
• licking
• whap
• stinger
• beating
• whop
• hand
• left
• counter
• larrup
• hammering
• right
• counterblow
• body blow
• whip
• sucker punch
• roundhouse
• shiver
• knockdown
• one-two
• counterstroke
• uppercut
• whipping
• KO
• knockout
• thrashing
• battering
• counterpunch
• pummeling
• rabbit punch
• drubbing
• cruncher
• walloping
• sidewinder
• pummelling
• clobbering
• flogging
• pasting
• cudgelling
• bludgeoning
• bastinado
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• bastinade
• kayo
• lambasting

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

• misfortune
• tragedy
• ill
• blow
• trouble
• hardship
• adversity
• disaster
• mishap
• trial
• misery
• fate
• accident
• defeat
• catastrophe
• misadventure
• mischance
• doom
• calamity
• suffering
• disappointment
• circumstance
• curse
• distress
• sorrow
• failure
• woe
• evil
• setback
• tribulation
• unhappiness
• casualty
• cataclysm
• destiny
• fizzle
• portion
• body blow
• affliction
• nonsuccess
• letdown
• lot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opportunity
• luck
• chance
• hit
• strike
• fortune
• break
• stroke
• success
• serendipity
• achievement
• windfall
• fluke
• accomplishment
• godsend

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• setback
• reverse
• reversal
• reversion
• lapse
• decline
• disappointment
• fall
• down
• collapse
• downfall
• frustration
• turnaround
• regression
• breakdown
• letdown
• recession
• crash
• comedown
• relapse
• ruin
• turnabout
• descent
• undoing
• retrogression
• meltdown

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• status quo

knock (about)

3 of 5

verb (2)

as in to roam

to move about from place to place aimlessly

we knocked about from town to town, looking for work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roam
• wander
• drift
• stroll
• gad (about)
• cruise
• float
• range
• rove
• kick around
• meander
• traipse
• ramble
• bat
• galavant
• gallivant
• mooch
• saunter
• mill (about or around)
• amble
• maunder
• vagabond
• gypsy
• dawdle
• mope
• stray
• straggle
• hobo
• tramp

knockabout

4 of 5

adjective

as in rollicking

being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way

a knockabout game of football in the mud

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rollicking
• boisterous
• lively
• raucous
• rowdy
• rambunctious
• carnival
• rumbustious
• violent
• hell-raising
• noisy
• wild and woolly
• raffish
• robustious
• riotous
• roisterous
• carnivalesque
• screaming
• wild
• wilful
• exuberant
• bubbly
• larrikin
• uncontrolled
• uninhibited
• turbulent
• ruffianly
• buoyant
• uncontrollable
• impassioned
• effervescent
• unreserved
• undisciplined
• yelling
• sprightly
• unrestrained
• unmanageable
• strident
• vivacious
• tempestuous
• stormy
• intractable
• unruly
• rowdyish
• obstreperous
• rampageous
• recalcitrant
• ungovernable
• headstrong
• loudmouthed
• vociferous
• high-spirited
• willful
• callithumpian
• rackety
• clamorous
• howling
• openmouthed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• orderly
• sombre
• solemn
• sedate
• staid
• proper
• somber
• dignified
• sober
• decorous
• placid
• silent
• restrained
• quiet
• seemly
• peaceful
• controlled
• composed
• calm
• serene
• noiseless
• tranquil
• imperturbable
• collected
• unruffled
• reasonable
• moderate
• hushed
• soundless
• repressed
• unflappable
• temperate
• subdued
• stolid
• stoical
• inhibited
• constrained
• phlegmatic
• stoic
• impassive
• detached
• indifferent
• depressed
• aloof
• self-controlled

knockabout

5 of 5

noun (2)

as in gypsy

a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination

the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gypsy
• traveller
• bird of passage
• wanderer
• nomad
• drifter
• gadabout
• traveler
• wayfarer
• roamer
• vagabond
• rambler
• rover
• maunderer
• stroller
• hobo
• passenger
• laggard
• straggler
• loiterer
• migrant
• tramp
• sojourner
• sightseer
• lingerer
• bum
• vagrant
• transient
• saunterer
• ambler

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resident
• settler
• inhabitant
• dweller
• homebody
• denizen
• habitant

Phrases Containing knock

• knock (someone) off his/her pedestal
• knock for a loop
• knock down
• knock back
• knock dead
• knock together
• knock silly
• knock over
• knock one's socks off
• knock up
• knock out
• knock off
• knock (about)