as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
the entire staff knocked itself out getting the project finished on time
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Recent Examples of knocking out
But for those operating in the gray area—long lunches, two-hour walks, knocking out their latest DIY project while their Slack status stays green—AI adoption is not their friend.
—
Robert Henderson, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Communities across the Upper Midwest are cleaning up after tornadoes and severe weather impacted the region over the weekend, damaging and destroying dozens of homes and knocking out power for tens of thousands.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
The two teams avoided each other last postseason, with the Oklahoma City Thunder knocking out the Nuggets on their way to the Western Conference finals.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Strong winds capable of knocking out power and damaging or even uprooting trees are also possible as the storms blast eastward into the evening across Michigan and northern parts of Ohio and Indiana.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
Within minutes, a dark brew of sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater was rising through basements and businesses, hospitals and the central rail station, knocking out power and causing a billion dollars in damage.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Later in the decade, the Air Force deployed the more advanced BLU-114/B during the NATO bombing in the Balkans, knocking out more than 70% of Serbia’s national grid in a single night and plunging the country into darkness.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Geekom is one of the most consistent companies in the micro PC market, reliably knocking out little rectangles packed with processing power at ultra-low prices.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Police say that when the friend refused, Rosas punched him in the face, knocking out his tooth, and commandeered the car.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Robert Henderson, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Communities across the Upper Midwest are cleaning up after tornadoes and severe weather impacted the region over the weekend, damaging and destroying dozens of homes and knocking out power for tens of thousands.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
The two teams avoided each other last postseason, with the Oklahoma City Thunder knocking out the Nuggets on their way to the Western Conference finals.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Strong winds capable of knocking out power and damaging or even uprooting trees are also possible as the storms blast eastward into the evening across Michigan and northern parts of Ohio and Indiana.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
Within minutes, a dark brew of sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater was rising through basements and businesses, hospitals and the central rail station, knocking out power and causing a billion dollars in damage.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Later in the decade, the Air Force deployed the more advanced BLU-114/B during the NATO bombing in the Balkans, knocking out more than 70% of Serbia’s national grid in a single night and plunging the country into darkness.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Geekom is one of the most consistent companies in the micro PC market, reliably knocking out little rectangles packed with processing power at ultra-low prices.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Police say that when the friend refused, Rosas punched him in the face, knocking out his tooth, and commandeered the car.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking out
Verb
-
On July 15th, 2020, the CDC Director recommended all Americans start wearing masks as a way to 'get the epidemic under control,' citing a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly (MMWR) study involving two hairstylists in Missouri.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Getting off the plane, Chamberlain was wearing shades on a gloomy day.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Russia attacked Kyiv on Sunday, killing four, injuring about 100, and damaging cultural sites.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
26 May 2026
-
That's the anniversary of a democratic uprising in the southern city of Gwangju that was brutally suppressed by troops, tanks and helicopters, killing or injuring hundreds.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Sliding effortlessly from incisive observer to chaotic flirt to exhausting narcissist, Firstman is never not in on the joke.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
-
Martinez on Thursday did not discuss details of the plan but said the city was exhausting all its options while seeking more ways to cut costs.—
Abby Church,
Houston Chronicle,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These design aspects allow users to operate it for extended periods without tiring or switching between different power outlets.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This helps each step feel lighter and easier, diminishing fatigue and letting the wearer venture out farther without tiring.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Having a system in place can help entrepreneurs hit ambitious goals without burning out the company or the people in it.—
Laura Jayne Waters,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
And the difference between making a career and building a flywheel is the difference between burning out at year ten and still going at year thirty.—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
As plastics break down, whether that be through washing polyester clothing or wearing out our tires, microscopic particles of plastic shed, small enough to be picked up and transported by the air.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
7 May 2026
-
If a device frequently drops connection and can be fixed with a wiggle, there’s a good chance something is wearing out in the cable.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Slow watering also prevents damage to the plants and protects the soil from washing out.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
Andrew Tate is not washing out.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
All this self-agonizing left the rest of the cast and crew waiting around for hours, their goodwill draining away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
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To save space, grow several shade-tolerant herbs together in a large container (such as a half whiskey barrel) with some well-draining potting mix.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20out. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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