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

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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

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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

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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 Video shared by NorCal Resist showed Moreida standing in the street recording an approaching SUV when its front-right corner struck him, knocking him to the pavement. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Coral Springs Police said 44-year-old Matthew John Ryan rammed a shopping cart with a dog inside into the menorah at Chabad of Coral Springs on North University Drive, knocking it completely over. — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026 Other clips showed young masked men knocking insistently on a driver’s side window and asking for IDs, while other masked men carrying sticks advanced in the distance. — Reuters, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026 The other student strikes one more blow from behind, knocking Xavier to the ground. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The murder prompted an extensive investigation, with police interviewing more than 1,300 people and knocking on hundreds of doors. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 For the hearing impaired, select rooms feature visual fire alarms plus signals for telephone ringing and door knocking. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Political handicapping has a way of knocking people down a couple of notches. — Nathan Gonzales Cq-Roll Call, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026 Luong says knocking the walls down between Ampersand and Jimmy John’s for this new expansion will primarily make room for a full kitchen, but also provide some extra space for seating. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking

Verb

The Goyard Saint Louis entered the top 10 ranking at number seven, bumping the Celine Ava off the list entirely, according to the report.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
There can be two women who are strong and dynamic, who are, at points, up against each other or bumping heads, but have the same mission and goal.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of bumping

Verb

Social media videos of him hitting tennis balls and baseballs while listing his policy proposals have provided a font of online mockery.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Lips and eyes were also adorned at the L’Oreal Paris booth, where guests received touch-ups before hitting the adjacent Allure Red Carpet.

— Eden Stuart, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the shift, a claim that was bolstered by statements from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth blaming Musk’s SpaceX for any change.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaming

Verb

Modeling work suggests the duo will keep orbiting our star for millions of years before ultimately slamming into either Earth or Venus.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The impact caused the Camry to spin around, slamming into the back of a southbound 2021 Toyota RAV4.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

But Varma and Shivam Dube (27) upped the ante in the final three overs by smacking 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Carrington was ejected from the game in the first half after smacking Cunningham across the face during Cunningham's layup attempt.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of smacking

Verb

Multiple Republicans brought up Bottoms during the debate when criticizing their GOP opponent.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Raman brought up Gates briefly while criticizing the mayor over the Los Angeles Police Department’s handling of federal immigration enforcement during Tuesday night’s debate.

— David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticizing

Verb

It was recast by two local foundry workers, John Pass and John Stow, not once but twice, because the first recast produced a sound that one bystander likened to coal scuttles banging together.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026
And then — more oysters, higher this time, cruel, pleasant things cutting at my hips, banging my thighs.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of banging

Verb

Intriguingly, this might not just be slapping boards into a plastic box.

— Sean Hollister, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
That incident involved Smith rushing the stage and slapping host Chris Rock with an open hand after the Oscars host made jokes about Jada Pinkett Smith.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026