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
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 off
There were only two upsets this week, with Indiana thrashing Illinois 63-10 and Texas Tech knocking off Utah 34-10.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Tom Pelphrey stars as one of the home invaders who is knocking off a biker gang’s stash houses.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But despite struggling to move the ball and/or score points for most of the year, Michigan finished strong last fall, knocking off Ohio State in the regular season finale and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to close the campaign on a high note.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
That is a big deal, both in terms of him knocking off the rust of reading a defense in real time and rekindling the chemistry with his offense.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
So, knocking off Benet seemed improbable, according to senior outside hitter Bridget Ferriter.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The ’Canes can instantly legitimize themselves by knocking off Notre Dame in its first game since playing for the national championship.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In the playoffs, the Rams upset the Vikings and came the closest of any team to knocking off the future Super Bowl champion Eagles.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Tom Pelphrey stars as one of the home invaders who is knocking off a biker gang’s stash houses.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But despite struggling to move the ball and/or score points for most of the year, Michigan finished strong last fall, knocking off Ohio State in the regular season finale and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to close the campaign on a high note.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
That is a big deal, both in terms of him knocking off the rust of reading a defense in real time and rekindling the chemistry with his offense.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
So, knocking off Benet seemed improbable, according to senior outside hitter Bridget Ferriter.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The ’Canes can instantly legitimize themselves by knocking off Notre Dame in its first game since playing for the national championship.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In the playoffs, the Rams upset the Vikings and came the closest of any team to knocking off the future Super Bowl champion Eagles.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking off
Verb
-
Teams have no choice but to continue to throw numbers at stopping the run.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
-
That's the same deadline that Grassley gave Noem to respond about stopping student visa authorizations.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Witnesses claimed that after France’s embarrassing loss to Haiti, the French government retaliated by confiscating Ferdinand’s belongings and abandoning the child to an orphanage.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Each note testified to the transformation of a society opening to the future without abandoning its roots.—
Billboard Arabia,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Business inventories also shrank, subtracting over three percentage points from GDP.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The Boys & Girls Club donation counter Bargatze spoke ahead of the show about his effort to keep speeches on time by subtracting from a $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club every time someone went over.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Refusing to engage with it means robbing yourself of the experience, like walking into a museum eyes closed rather than appreciating any of the paintings.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
-
One of the shooting deaths included in ADL’s data involved the suspect robbing a fast-food restaurant and then stealing a getaway vehicle.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The trial of the man accused of murdering his University of Miami football teammate in 2006 has been delayed until early next year in light of a key witness who police said was dead was found alive by an ESPN reporter, a judge ruled Thursday.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Does Stacey even remember murdering Daniel?—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Robles’ sprinting, diving catch to start a game-ending double play in Houston last Saturday could stand as the pivotal moment when the season turned Seattle’s way.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
But that unit got a little less threatening after the season-ending ACL injury to former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa in Sunday’s 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In her new book, Priscilla Presley recounts an allegedly harrowing ordeal her late daughter dealt with after quitting Scientology, Page Six first reported.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Reports have emerged of individuals quitting their jobs, selling possessions, and even pulling children out of school in preparation for the event.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The review added that the ongoing bit about the deducting from a charitable donation for longer speech set a negative tone.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Using debt wisely can also offer tax advantages, such as deducting mortgage interest from taxable income.—
Gabriel Shahin,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knocking off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share