1
as in winning
to receive as return for effort
she's knocking down a good salary, but she has to work very hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in taking down
to take apart
right after the holidays the stores start to knock down the window displays
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in downing
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
the overexcited dog knocked the toddler down
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in reducing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
they'll have to knock down the price of those televisions if they expect to sell any
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 down
French guard Marine Johannes was equally unstoppable, knocking down five 3-pointers to finish with 17 points on top of five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
—
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
The aftermath of the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision knocking down a key protection in the Voting Rights Act is reverberating across the nation.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Repeatedly knocking down small nests may discourage the queen from starting another nest in that spot.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
The big man has been efficient all playoffs by bulldozing to the rim and finishing, by knocking down trailing 3s and hitting the offensive glass.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
As their mutual competitiveness grows shockingly ugly, Niall learns to turn Ruben’s Samsonian strength and fury against him, knocking down the pillars of Ruben’s own life.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
In the past, even when Gobert has done his job to the best of anyone’s abilities, Jokic has often found answers in the form of knocking down outside jumpers or by flashing his feathery touch in the midrange.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Big man Neemias Queta even got in on the action for Boston, knocking down his first career 3 to go along with 10 rebounds.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Acknowledgment can also feel like the bare minimum, but the fight for it grows increasingly urgent when the American President is knocking down public memorials of slavery like tin ducks in a carnival shooting game.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
The aftermath of the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision knocking down a key protection in the Voting Rights Act is reverberating across the nation.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Repeatedly knocking down small nests may discourage the queen from starting another nest in that spot.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
The big man has been efficient all playoffs by bulldozing to the rim and finishing, by knocking down trailing 3s and hitting the offensive glass.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
As their mutual competitiveness grows shockingly ugly, Niall learns to turn Ruben’s Samsonian strength and fury against him, knocking down the pillars of Ruben’s own life.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
In the past, even when Gobert has done his job to the best of anyone’s abilities, Jokic has often found answers in the form of knocking down outside jumpers or by flashing his feathery touch in the midrange.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Big man Neemias Queta even got in on the action for Boston, knocking down his first career 3 to go along with 10 rebounds.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Acknowledgment can also feel like the bare minimum, but the fight for it grows increasingly urgent when the American President is knocking down public memorials of slavery like tin ducks in a carnival shooting game.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking down
Verb
-
Aspen Wooten, a talented tennis prodigy who moved from Memphis to Lake Nona with her family as a ninth grader, had accomplished just about everything available in her four-year high school career — including winning more than 100 matches.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Schindler also put down the winning kill in both games for the Knights (16-5, 1-1).—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At that time, there was also another element that was taking down some other buildings.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Brandon Steiner is in charge of taking down and selling items from Highmark Stadium.—
Sam Brock,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cost of action The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last year, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
As the sun sets, the fruit bats swoop among the trees as couples and young families lounge on large poolside cabanas, downing languid cocktails and listening to live guitar strums before heading for a casual dinner.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, facilities at public parks and libraries close at nightfall, greatly reducing the number of bathrooms available.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
In the surgical procedure, a v-shape of the lower lid is removed thereby shortening the area and reducing the defect.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Poorer households, defined as those earning less than $40,000, cut their gas consumption by 7%, the report found, but still spent 12% more on gas in March.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
To tow the car five miles and hold it at a towing site cost $430, which if someone is earning only the minimum wage is a lot of money.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Legislators built this system, and judges are dismantling it.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
-
Moira Donegan argued in the Guardian last week that the court’s 6-3 decision not only reflected its rightwing bias but completed chief justice John Roberts’s long project of dismantling the VRA.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
In that incident, Burke approached an officer, pulled a stick from a garbage can and held it at his side for about three seconds before dropping it, police said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
After dropping during the Covid pandemic, the share of people working more than one job has increased over the past few years, government data shows.—
Stephanie Dhue,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
As recently reported through KPBS, this progress has led to rents decreasing by about 5%.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Several years ago, MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred enacted changes meant to speed up the game through better pace of play, keeping the same amount of action in baseball while decreasing the time each game took to finish.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20down. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
