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
Relevance
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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we knocked about from town to town, looking for work
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as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
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as in nomad
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Utah retook the lead not even two minutes later when Hart found himself out of position and Vegas defenseman Kaeden Korczak knocked the puck into his own net, though it was officially credited to Kevin Stenlund.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
So at some moment there’d be a knock on the door and their guns would be confiscated.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Verb
Some of the traditional news perches aren’t waiting for creators to come knocking.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Utah retook the lead not even two minutes later when Hart found himself out of position and Vegas defenseman Kaeden Korczak knocked the puck into his own net, though it was officially credited to Kevin Stenlund.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Instead, the pinstripers couldn’t even muster a hit against the lefty until the seventh inning when Ben Rice delivered their first knock of the day, a one-out single.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
So at some moment there’d be a knock on the door and their guns would be confiscated.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Noun
This new film is a very black comedy that is also a heist story with some bloody violence, along with a bit of knockabout slapstick and a theme of family bonds.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Adjective
-
Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the corner of the yard, the rooster is crowing away in boisterous voice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
That lineage comes through in their ungovernable guitar noodling, inspired by underground icons NRBQ and Bottle Rockets, and a boisterous energy befitting of drunken basement shows.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The lively, spirited daughter of an Afghani immigrant family chafes against the traditional values of her family and immigrant community.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Today, Salado’s historic roots blend with a lively creative scene.—
Lauren Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Planning commission meetings in Joliet, Illinois, aren’t typically raucous affairs.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Bruins quieted the raucous Buffalo crowd when star center Morgan Geekie buried a slap shot into the back of the net from the high slot to give them a 1-0 lead about 11 minutes into the first period.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
By night, the vibe is more adults-only, with rowdy singalongs at the Observation Deck champagne and piano bar, and sultry jazz vibes taking over the interior Living Room common space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Simpson released the rowdy disco delight Mutiny After Midnight — his second record under his alter ego, Johnny Blue Skies — last month.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the crowd at that rumbustious Democratic Convention in 1896 was a journeyman journalist, L. Frank Baum, who had a number of careers behind him by that time.—
David McWilliams,
Fortune,
16 Nov. 2025
-
Around this time, the outfit’s quirky, lightly rumbustious songs began to resonate across British press and radio; accessible while containing a marked dose of strangeness, Fontaine’s songwriting – at once emotionally raw and witty – boasted a strong multi-generational appeal.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
In contrast to the Sussex children’s rambunctious backyard egg hunt, the children of Prince William and Princess Catherine spent part of their Easter having to parade to church in front of dozens of cameras, looking buttoned-up in formal suits and coats.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
If your pet is rambunctious, consider putting them up and waiting to introduce them when the situation is calm, especially if older folks will be showing up.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Customers at Starbucks will be introduced to a new interface with a carnival-style wheel.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
30 Mar. 2023
-
Transform your salad spinner into a carnival-style spin art machine.—
Lauren Piro,
Good Housekeeping,
31 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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