1
as in stopping
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
knock it off!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abandoning
to stop doing (something) permanently
decided it was time to knock off telling fantastic fibs about her family background
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracting
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
a proposal to knock 10 cents off the gasoline tax
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in robbing
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
Bonnie and Clyde coped with the Great Depression by knocking off banks
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in murdering
to put to death deliberately
various assassins have tried to knock off the dictator over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocking off
The upstart Anaheim Ducks knocking off Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
—
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 3 May 2026
Atascocita rose to the occasion again, however, knocking off the Spartans in another overtime thriller.
—Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Texas, meanwhile, rode the momentum after knocking off likely NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU in the first round.
—Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Two of the biggest of the first day were Atlantic 10 champion Virginia Commonwealth — the 11th seed in the West Region — beating 6th seed and perennial power North Carolina, and Big South Champion High Point — a 12th seed in the West — knocking off 5th seed Wisconsin from the Big Ten.
—Josh Taylor, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The Ladyjacks secured their trip to Austin by knocking off the top two seeds at the Southland Conference Tournament.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026
Three days after knocking off section top-seed Holy Family, Blake beat fourth-seed Minneapolis North 64-54 in the semifinals.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2026
Although the close game was unfamiliar for Madison, Brownfield was used to it after knocking off Shallowater by scoring five points in the final two seconds of the regional final last week.
—Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
The senior guard finished with a game-high 14 points, as the Panthers closed things on a late 10-0 run en route to knocking off rival Duxbury.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 3 May 2026
Atascocita rose to the occasion again, however, knocking off the Spartans in another overtime thriller.
—Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Texas, meanwhile, rode the momentum after knocking off likely NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa and BYU in the first round.
—Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Two of the biggest of the first day were Atlantic 10 champion Virginia Commonwealth — the 11th seed in the West Region — beating 6th seed and perennial power North Carolina, and Big South Champion High Point — a 12th seed in the West — knocking off 5th seed Wisconsin from the Big Ten.
—Josh Taylor, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The Ladyjacks secured their trip to Austin by knocking off the top two seeds at the Southland Conference Tournament.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026
Three days after knocking off section top-seed Holy Family, Blake beat fourth-seed Minneapolis North 64-54 in the semifinals.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2026
Although the close game was unfamiliar for Madison, Brownfield was used to it after knocking off Shallowater by scoring five points in the final two seconds of the regional final last week.
—Ishmael Johnson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
The senior guard finished with a game-high 14 points, as the Panthers closed things on a late 10-0 run en route to knocking off rival Duxbury.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
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Higher gas prices and airfare aren't stopping 45 million Americans from traveling for Memorial Day weekend in 2026, according to AAA's new forecast.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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There’s been no stopping Garcia in his last two starts.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Even as anthropologists were decisively abandoning totemism, however, the idea was gaining cultural credibility elsewhere.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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What are the penalties for abandoning vulnerable seniors?—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Briere said the Flyers' rebuild was entering its next phase, shifting from subtracting players to adding them.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised data, adding an additional 34,000 jobs to January, showing a growth of 160,000, but subtracting 41,000 from February, showing a loss of 133,000.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two men charged with stealing about $667,000 of Louis Vuitton merchandise from the back of delivery trucks — robbing the drivers at gunpoint — pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday, prosecutors said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Benge made another one of those catches in center field Monday, helping out right-hander Austin Warren by robbing Tyler Freeman of extra bases.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Verb
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The story follows a respected college basketball coach who is accused of murdering his mistress.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
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Smith was convicted and sentenced to life for murdering her sons.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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In all, the 39 Broadway productions (one fewer than the previous week due to Book of Mormon) grossed $38,297,488 for the week ending May 10, a drop of 3% from the previous week and down about 11% from last year at this time.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
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The Lakers plan to hire two assistant general managers, Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager, said in a season-ending news conference Tuesday after the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Tuesday's announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA reiterated that the Glas vapes are only intended for adults interested in quitting or cutting back on cigarettes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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Special programs target gut health, sleep improvement and even quitting smoking, with stays ranging from four-day resets to three-week interventions.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
5 May 2026
Verb
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What will the license plates fund After deducting administrative fees, proceeds from the Disney plates would go toward services provided by hospitals and clinics that are not covered by insurance or a patient.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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The remaining settlement fund after deducting those costs and expenses will then be split among recipients based on their individual amounts, according to the settlement website.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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