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
Ted Hotaling‘s squad won three straight NEC games in January, knocking off FDU, Wagner and Chicago State.
—
Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 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
Because chucking a mini pillow and knocking off a person’s hat is *thisclose* to knocking off a person.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Freedom was able to avenge a district championship loss to Lake Nona by knocking off the defending state champs in a quarterfinal rematch 2-0 in overtime.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
The college football season ended Monday night with Indiana knocking off Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Therefore Primate and its promising central character turns more into a typical slasher flick, repeatedly knocking off the swimsuit-wearing teens one by one, his specialty being yanking out jaws and other bloody grossouts.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
There were several games to keep an eye on — most notably the Arizona Wildcats knocking off the defending NCAA champion Florida Gators.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
But the Panthers probably weren’t knocking off the Bills regardless of the backfield split, especially with three offensive linemen leaving with injuries.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 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
Because chucking a mini pillow and knocking off a person’s hat is *thisclose* to knocking off a person.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Freedom was able to avenge a district championship loss to Lake Nona by knocking off the defending state champs in a quarterfinal rematch 2-0 in overtime.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
The college football season ended Monday night with Indiana knocking off Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Therefore Primate and its promising central character turns more into a typical slasher flick, repeatedly knocking off the swimsuit-wearing teens one by one, his specialty being yanking out jaws and other bloody grossouts.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
There were several games to keep an eye on — most notably the Arizona Wildcats knocking off the defending NCAA champion Florida Gators.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
But the Panthers probably weren’t knocking off the Bills regardless of the backfield split, especially with three offensive linemen leaving with injuries.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
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When stopping roadside, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
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For years, the staunchest border hawks and hard-liners justified their positions in terms of stopping unlawful immigration.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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So much so that by June 1870, Rillet filed a trademark injunction with the New York Supreme Court, trying to stop a competitor who had borrowed the name while abandoning the process.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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At the same time, resilience isn’t about abandoning them to fend for themselves, either—instead parents should strive to strike a balance between the two extremes.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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It was calculated by subtracting the average net price of the school according to College Scorecard, or the average cost to those receiving financial aid, from the average earnings each year after enrollment.—
Sasha Allen,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
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Heating Degree Days are calculated by taking the day's high temperature and adding it to the day's low temperature, then dividing by 2 and subtracting that value from 65.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the indictment, Abrams and two other gang members are accused of robbing a 39-year-old man in Queens on June 19, 2023, 11 days after the attack on Vasquez.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Horgan’s debut feature How to Rob, also an indie crime movie, saw Chinaza Uche (Silo) and Koopman portray a two-man stick-up crew robbing criminals from Boston to Cape Cod.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Revuckas is also charged with murdering Morales's unborn child and is due back in court on Wednesday.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
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The family of a Broward man is seeking justice after two teens were arrested in Texas on Thursday after being accused of murdering him.—
Ted Scouten,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Less than a year after ending a European tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are headed back out on the Land of Hope and Dreams American tour.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
17 Feb. 2026
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Running back Cam Skattebo, who was putting together a strong rookie campaign for the New York Giants in 2025 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8, played for Sac State in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to Arizona State.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Barely two months after nearly quitting — her husband, former bobsledder Nic Taylor, flew to Norway after those texts to talk her out of it — Meyers Taylor won the women’s monobob gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games.—
Tim Reynolds,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
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Schaffrick has quite a story — turning pro at 14 before growing disillusioned with the sport at 21, quitting to become a plumber.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rather than deducting expenses, the 70% split remaining with the league would be used to cover costs.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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In addition, Dawson evaded paying state taxes and payroll taxes by failing to file the necessary tax returns, while deducting payroll taxes from the teachers’ paychecks and using those deductions for himself, the criminal complaint alleges.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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