1
as in bumping
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 hitting
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 blaming
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
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 knocking
Crews will be knocking door to door, assessing the damage in hopes of getting the state and federal emergency declarations for Ann Arbor, which could help residents pay for repairs.
—
Jack Springgate, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
An Idaho Statesman reporter was unable to reach Ricks for comment by calling a number believed to belong to Ricks and by visiting the property several times, knocking on his door and leaving notes.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
Post-Pudge, pro football punched along, knocking from the East to a haphazard hub in the Midwest, sprouting a raucous Ohio rivalry that grew in the years after a Canton lawyer named William McKinley was president of the USA.
—Steve Doerschuk, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Residents who had previously circulated petitions against the data center pivoted to door-knocking for the candidates, collaborating on campaign videos, encouraging their neighbors to show up to vote and even driving each other to the polls.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Police say Martinez punched the man in the face, pulled him to the ground and continued to hit him, knocking the victim unconscious.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Apr. 2026
The Stockyards is knocking it out of the park, the Near Southside is growing with hospital and hotel development, and new construction is under way in the West 7th District, Taft said.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
In footage released on social media, FSB officers in masks were shown knocking on the man's door and entering for a search of his apartment.
—Reuters, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
Jack Springgate, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
An Idaho Statesman reporter was unable to reach Ricks for comment by calling a number believed to belong to Ricks and by visiting the property several times, knocking on his door and leaving notes.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
Post-Pudge, pro football punched along, knocking from the East to a haphazard hub in the Midwest, sprouting a raucous Ohio rivalry that grew in the years after a Canton lawyer named William McKinley was president of the USA.
—Steve Doerschuk, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Residents who had previously circulated petitions against the data center pivoted to door-knocking for the candidates, collaborating on campaign videos, encouraging their neighbors to show up to vote and even driving each other to the polls.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Police say Martinez punched the man in the face, pulled him to the ground and continued to hit him, knocking the victim unconscious.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Apr. 2026
The Stockyards is knocking it out of the park, the Near Southside is growing with hospital and hotel development, and new construction is under way in the West 7th District, Taft said.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
In footage released on social media, FSB officers in masks were shown knocking on the man's door and entering for a search of his apartment.
—Reuters, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking
Verb
-
Back-rower Abi Burton had to lock for the first time, 19-year-old back-rower Demelza Short debuted, and Emma Sing got a shot at fullback, bumping Ellie Kildunne to the wing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Five years later, Marquinhos was chest-bumping Thiago Silva, his countryman and mentor at PSG, after forcing Mohamed Salah to run the ball out of play at the Parc des Princes for Liverpool.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Giants ace Logan Webb hitting the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing with a pitch, as well as Rushing’s subsequent hard slide into shortstop Willy Adames, pale in comparison to the clashes between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But the big ticket moment comes in the morning, when coffee is delivered to you in bed and the tent canopy is drawn to reveal the sun hitting the looming red rocks of the canyon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both Hilton and Bianco gave the governor an F, blaming the crisis on drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Video emerged online showing a red Ferrari shooting out of a tunnel along the highway at a high speed, slamming into a concrete barrier where the road curved and erupting into flames.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Hamadeh, who won his seat in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District in 2024, also spent time in his speech slamming top Democrats with insults.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
De Kock smashed eight boundaries and seven sixes and Dhir complemented his South African teammate by smacking three fours and three sixes in the century partnership.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Berfield — who played Reese, Dewey's older brother — watches the tween get picked on by a group of bullies before turning and smacking them with his bag.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized Wednesday for publicly criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh over a ruling on immigration stops — and seeming to imply that her conservative colleague's views were shaped by an out-of-touch upbringing.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Victoria Beckham is speaking out about her family in the wake of her son Brooklyn Beckham's comments criticizing his parents earlier this year.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
On the night he was arrested, Martinez confessed to shaking Heather and banging her head against a crib, but later recanted that confession.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But there’s more to at-home extensions than slapping them on the crown of your head and heading out the door.—
Hunter Lacey,
Allure,
9 Apr. 2026
-
That means going beyond slapping a flag on packaging in November.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
