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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 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
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
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
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
See All Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Adjective
-
Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
-
His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Their throats may have been boisterous, singing loud and long, but their eyes were shot with worry.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
In the practiced government kabuki of these events, commissioners spoke, proposals were voted on unanimously, and chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Donald Trump, ran things smoothly, though his demeanor was rather boisterous.—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The user's tale went on to generate a lively conversation in the comments section of the post.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
8 May 2025
-
Domingo, one of the earliest VIP arrivals at the party, was showing off his style on the lane, ball in hand, as the lively room continued to fill up.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
The defending champions are now in real danger of being eliminated with the next two games at a raucous Madison Square Garden.—
Matias Grez,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
-
Newsrooms then were raucous places, filled with loud voices, the constant clacking of typewriters, cigarette smoke and big, colorful personalities.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
At various points, the judge threatened to throw the crowd out for being too rowdy.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
-
This isn't the first time Ripa and Consuelos have dealt with a rowdy crowd.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Latto popped up first on the track, bringing some braggadocios bars before G Herbo jumped in with his rambunctious energy.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
30 Apr. 2025
-
David Corenswet is the new man in Superman's cape and (and Clark Kent's glasses) in a movie also featuring journalist Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), supervillain Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and rambunctious superdog Krypto.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Customers at Starbucks will be introduced to a new interface with a carnival-style wheel.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
30 Mar. 2023
-
The Square has spooky carnival-style games.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 May 2022
-
From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.—
David Kortava,
The New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share