Synonyms of knocking

knocking

verb

present participle of knock

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

• bumping
• slamming
• banging
• colliding
• smashing
• crashing
• hitting
• ramming
• thudding
• impinging
• impacting
• bashing
• striking
• swiping
• glancing
• bouncing
• scraping
• contacting
• skipping
• pushing
• brushing
• sweeping
• rebounding
• ricocheting
• touching
• landing
• kissing
• nudging
• skimming
• clunking
• caroming
• shaving
• jostling
• grazing
• pressing
• bulldozing
• muscling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missing
• skirting

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

• hitting
• slamming
• smacking
• slapping
• banging
• punching
• pounding
• whacking
• clapping
• striking
• clipping
• swiping
• cracking
• kicking
• batting
• bashing
• thumping
• tapping
• nailing
• hammering
• pushing
• shoving
• poking
• licking
• swatting
• jabbing
• slugging
• boxing
• flicking
• thwacking
• clobbering
• bobbing
• bopping
• zapping
• socking
• rapping
• clouting
• chopping
• smiting
• bludgeoning
• bumping
• clocking
• busting
• tagging
• pasting
• stabbing
• bonking
• belting
• slogging
• walloping
• stroking
• biffing
• whaling
• beating
• pummeling
• battering
• hanging one on
• mauling
• slashing
• peppering
• pelting
• mangling
• dumping
• cuffing
• roughing
• stamping
• scuffing
• lashing
• butting
• buffeting
• jostling
• lambasting
• whipping
• prodding
• bunging
• drubbing
• kneeing
• switching
• flailing
• lacing
• creaming
• pommeling
• bunting
• sapping
• felling
• decking
• thrashing
• knocking down
• spearing
• clubbing
• bowling (down or over)
• cudgeling
• flogging
• leveling
• braining
• conking
• flooring
• sucker punching
• caning
• sledgehammering
• sledging
• skulling
• rabbit-punching
• beaning

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

• blaming
• criticizing
• condemning
• faulting
• denouncing
• attacking
• slamming
• kicking
• tweaking
• slagging
• scolding
• panning
• slashing
• finding fault (with)
• blasting
• complaining
• censuring
• lashing
• dispraising
• dissing
• reprehending
• coming down hard (on)
• muttering
• taking to task
• assailing
• clobbering
• whining
• admonishing
• murmuring
• moaning
• grumbling
• growling
• beefing
• skewering
• berating
• chiding
• bitching
• reprimanding
• sniping (at)
• hammering
• grousing
• griping
• quibbling
• nicking (at)
• crucifying
• upbraiding
• bellyaching
• deriding
• rebuking
• niggling
• disparaging
• belittling
• carping
• crabbing
• reproaching
• decrying
• flaying
• caviling
• castigating
• excoriating
• pillorying
• reproving
• croaking
• drubbing
• lambasting
• kvetching
• keelhauling
• fussing
• bad-mouthing
• gibbeting
• discommending
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praising
• extolling
• approving
• recommending
• endorsing
• commending
• lauding
• sanctioning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of knocking

For those who missed it, Stephens hit a sliding Moore in the helmet during the second quarter, knocking Moore out of the game and sending the star quarterback to the hospital down the street on a stretcher. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

To get the coach's side of the story, CBS News Detroit tried calling her, reaching out to her on social media, knocking on her door and writing her a letter. — Julia Avant, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Reddington went through elements of the commonwealth’s trial presentation, knocking evidence as circumstantial. — Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Swift is a ghost of girlfriends past haunting Johnson in the video, sleeping in bed next to her, knocking drinks over to warn her to leave her ominous partner. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

According to court documents, a woman told police that Pace, who was her child’s father, was inside her residence when her boyfriend, Adams, arrived and began knocking loudly on the door. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Some of the entries this year have been knocking on the Hall door for years, including Tickle Me Elmo, the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Mahjong. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

But a flurry of new contracts in 2026 has two more coaches on par with Reid and another pair knocking at the door of $20 million, based on a half-dozen conversations with those familiar with NFL coaching contracts. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has apologized for his public reaction to a video that was altered by AI to show Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe and knocking her to the ground. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026