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

Its 90 minutes begin with an interviewer knocking on Smith’s door. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

His coalition ended up knocking on 200,000 doors, of which about 95% were Latino households, Montemayor said. — Linh Tat, Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026

Surveillance camera footage of the altercation shows one of the men slapping the tourist before the other suspect punches the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Keri Ingle ignited her base and got people out there knocking and telling her priorities and her story. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026

But Huntley suffered a turf toe injury in the same Bills matchup, knocking him out for the remainder of the season. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Ferguson credits success to his deep local roots, an emphasis on making people’s lives better, ignoring culture-war nonsense, and knocking (implausibly) on 48,000 doors. — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

The plot’s exposure damaged Democrat Mary Peltola, knocking her off-message, and now threatens her party’s chances of winning control of the Senate. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

In another drastic change, Lake Brantley (5-5), after Friday night’s 56-0 shellacking of Hagerty, moved into the eighth and final 6A Region 1 spot, knocking Hagerty out. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026