KNOCKING Synonyms: 213 Similar and Opposite Words

knocking

verb

present participle of knock

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

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

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 The 13-year-old allegedly punched Hernandez-Lopez multiple times in the face, knocking him unconscious before deputies arrived, the sheriff’s office said. —

Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026 Monaco, despite being reduced to 10 men in both legs, also came unexpectedly close to knocking them out of the play-offs. —

James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 With the combination of rising oil prices, and the demand knocking at Moscow's door, Vladimir Vladimirovich's war against Ukraine might could be much better funded for the rest of the year. —

Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026 Cool, cloudy and calm weather helps preserve the blossoms, while heat, wind and rain can shorten the display by knocking petals from the trees. —

Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2026 The Gaels wanted the chance to play longtime rival Gonzaga once more, just 10 days after knocking them off in Moraga to claim a regular-season co-title. —

Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026 The bodyguard, who is also a San Francisco police officer, is then seen shoving Phillips, knocking him off his feet. —

Jose Fabian, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026 Canadarm was used for spacewalking, several Hubble Space Telescope missions and some impromptu maneuvers such as knocking an ice plug off a frozen shuttle drain line, according to NASA. —

Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026 Return to New York when Broadway comes knocking. —

Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking

Verb

And yet the Democrat is bumping along near the bottom, a blip in polls and a laggard in the money chase.

— Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Betty Yee is bumping along near the bottom in California’s race for governor.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026