as in sipped
to swallow in liquid form
desperately thirsty, she knocked back an entire glass of water without pausing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocked back
He sort of just gets knocked back a little bit.
—
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
With ghost Rich’s help, the kids sink the dagger into the ground beneath the deadwood, and the Pennywise bird is knocked back onto the ice by a beam of light.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Next door, at the nearly pitch-black bar Nothing Really Matters, a pair of court officers knocked back tomato martinis as a couple got handsy over pilsners a few seats down.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
Two employees of Kentucky Truck Parts and Service, whose shop is located on the edge of the debris field, told CNN affiliate WLKY they were knocked back by the explosion.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Colts three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and mates knocked back linemen and linebackers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
After 400 that pinnacle drop is the only thing to level you up, and after six months, everyone is getting knocked back down to 200 to do it all over again.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
With ghost Rich’s help, the kids sink the dagger into the ground beneath the deadwood, and the Pennywise bird is knocked back onto the ice by a beam of light.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Next door, at the nearly pitch-black bar Nothing Really Matters, a pair of court officers knocked back tomato martinis as a couple got handsy over pilsners a few seats down.
—The Editors, Curbed, 15 Dec. 2025
Two employees of Kentucky Truck Parts and Service, whose shop is located on the edge of the debris field, told CNN affiliate WLKY they were knocked back by the explosion.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Colts three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and mates knocked back linemen and linebackers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
After 400 that pinnacle drop is the only thing to level you up, and after six months, everyone is getting knocked back down to 200 to do it all over again.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocked back
Verb
-
Plates are passed, glasses of wine are sipped, and stories are shared.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Others sipped drinks, with many opting for adult concoctions on the day of celebration rather than the usual morning coffee.—
Sara Cline,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Men and women who drank the most caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of dementia compared to people who consumed little to no caffeine.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The benefits appeared to be most pronounced in people who drank 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day or 1 to 2 cups of caffeinated tea.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Alarms go off, phones come out, coffee is gulped down, and before either partner is fully awake, they’re already headed into separate days.—
Mark Travers,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2026
-
So the 46,000 at the Stadium of Light gulped again.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knocked back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocked%20back. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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