1
as in bumps
to come into usually forceful contact with something
my knee knocked against the table leg when I tried to get up quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hits
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
threatened to knock him upside the head if he didn't do as he was told
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in blames
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
hey, don't knock it until you've tried it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in misfortunes
bad luck or an example of this
getting his college degree was a six year adventure not without its share of knocks along the way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in setbacks
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the geneticist's reputation took a knock when several of his peers were unable to confirm his research findings
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 knocks
Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Temperatures will be near 81 degrees on Monday, and then turn cooler on Tuesday through Thursday after a cold front knocks them back into the mid- to upper 60s.
—Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
The sweetness of the cherry tomatoes knocks the flavor profile out of the park.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
At that house, no one answered a Statesman reporter’s knocks on Monday, but Davidson told the Statesman that his family owns the whole lot.
—Idaho Statesman, 28 Apr. 2026
For one thing, precedent says that Waddle’s production this fall should, health permitting (knocks on wood), just about double whatever numbers Cooper puts out as a rookie for the J-E-T-S in 2026.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The female actually knocks him down to the ground.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, Lace delivers a kick that knocks Jinx on his back, inflaming an old injury.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Surrounded by a strong ensemble under the direction of Georgette Verdin, Nozicka frankly knocks this thorny role out of the park.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
But a leg injury in preseason and other knocks have kept him out of the lineup.
—Michelle Kaufman
may 12, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The four hits the Tigers managed against Gray proved their only knocks of the night.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 May 2026
The exterior Forged from anodized aluminum, this is Carl Friedrik's most hard-wearing cabin case yet, with new steel rivets adding extra protection against knocks and bumps to complement the robust aluminum frame.
—Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Four Royals singled in succession — led by Collins and Kyle Isbel’s run-producing knocks.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Many owners told Bridge they were approached by knocks on the door and verbal offers.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Management staff opened the apartment door after police received no response to their knocks.
—Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
The Spartans chased Luke Harrison in the fourth with a solo home run, then two more knocks that sent Jim Schlossnagle to the mound to take the ball.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
He wasn’t invited to the combine this winter and drew knocks from some evaluators for his lack of length and his inconsistency as a pass rusher.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Temperatures will be near 81 degrees on Monday, and then turn cooler on Tuesday through Thursday after a cold front knocks them back into the mid- to upper 60s.
—Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
The sweetness of the cherry tomatoes knocks the flavor profile out of the park.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
At that house, no one answered a Statesman reporter’s knocks on Monday, but Davidson told the Statesman that his family owns the whole lot.
—Idaho Statesman, 28 Apr. 2026
For one thing, precedent says that Waddle’s production this fall should, health permitting (knocks on wood), just about double whatever numbers Cooper puts out as a rookie for the J-E-T-S in 2026.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The female actually knocks him down to the ground.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, Lace delivers a kick that knocks Jinx on his back, inflaming an old injury.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Surrounded by a strong ensemble under the direction of Georgette Verdin, Nozicka frankly knocks this thorny role out of the park.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Trusty, after all, has also felt the knocks professional sport can deliver.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
But a leg injury in preseason and other knocks have kept him out of the lineup.
—Michelle Kaufman
may 12, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The four hits the Tigers managed against Gray proved their only knocks of the night.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 May 2026
The exterior Forged from anodized aluminum, this is Carl Friedrik's most hard-wearing cabin case yet, with new steel rivets adding extra protection against knocks and bumps to complement the robust aluminum frame.
—Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Four Royals singled in succession — led by Collins and Kyle Isbel’s run-producing knocks.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Many owners told Bridge they were approached by knocks on the door and verbal offers.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Management staff opened the apartment door after police received no response to their knocks.
—Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
The Spartans chased Luke Harrison in the fourth with a solo home run, then two more knocks that sent Jim Schlossnagle to the mound to take the ball.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocks
Verb
-
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, excluding a mandatory $2,595 destination fee that bumps the price to $102,590.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
-
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Ohtani entered Wednesday with four doubles and 10 hits total in five games against the Angels and Padres.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
-
After the Sabres were eliminated in the second round of the NHL playoffs with an overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, Tuch and the Sabres have until July 1 to agree on a new contract before the 30-year-old winger hits the open market.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
While the Cuban government often blames Washington’s sanctions and trade embargo for its financial woes, GAESA’s investment strategies have also contributed to the island’s economic demise, analysts said.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
Dyer blames Washtenaw County Commission Chair Katie Scott for allegedly leaking this information to media outlets months after the investigation concluded.—
Jack Springgate,
CBS News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The system, called WhaleSpotter, scans the bay around the clock for whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, alerting mariners to slow down or reroute when whales are nearby.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
-
While the killing dealt one of the biggest blows to ISIS’s global network in years, disrupting operations in northeastern Nigeria, the terror group's top leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains at large as Africa becomes the movement's global epicenter.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Farmers markets — that humble and charming throwback to a bygone era — are also struggling with higher fuel prices, after weathering the economic calamities of the pandemic and other misfortunes.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
The Philadelphia singer-songwriter seeks out the mystical potential of quotidian misfortunes in a set of psychedelic-of-center bedroom pop songs.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But on July 1, after years of highs, lows and financial setbacks, Connie & Ted’s will close.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
-
Early setbacks — including the contraction of teams like the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny — highlighted the league’s vulnerability.—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Debris slams against the other side, whips beneath the door, slashing cuts into Jones’ and the doctor’s ankles.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Then, the giant lawyer puppet slams upright, sending the contestant back to the start.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Anderson slaps his hit down the right field line, just fair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
