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
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Recent Examples of knocks
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
The fun-loving entertainment hub doesn't yet have a US product page, but is up for pre-order on Amazon for US$799 (though there is a promo coupon available at time of writing that knocks a few dollars off that ticket price).
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
Harrison stabs Prater with the needle and knocks the billionaire out.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
When cosmic rays — including, in part, plain old protons from the Sun’s solar wind — strike the Moon, the recoil from those heavy elements knocks them into an excited state.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
At one point, one of Bacon's throws accidentally knocks his phone camera off of its position.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
The sweetness of the cherry tomatoes knocks the flavor profile out of the park.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
In the fifth, the inning the Twins scored a pair of runs on RBI knocks from Larnach and Brooks Lee.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
The collapsing dad then inadvertently knocks the boy out of his wheelchair.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Alvarez had three knocks, including an RBI double to open the scoring.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
His visit to her is the kind of single scene where an Oscar winner like Steenburgen knocks it out of the park.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
The fun-loving entertainment hub doesn't yet have a US product page, but is up for pre-order on Amazon for US$799 (though there is a promo coupon available at time of writing that knocks a few dollars off that ticket price).
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
Harrison stabs Prater with the needle and knocks the billionaire out.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
When cosmic rays — including, in part, plain old protons from the Sun’s solar wind — strike the Moon, the recoil from those heavy elements knocks them into an excited state.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
At one point, one of Bacon's throws accidentally knocks his phone camera off of its position.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
The sweetness of the cherry tomatoes knocks the flavor profile out of the park.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
In the fifth, the inning the Twins scored a pair of runs on RBI knocks from Larnach and Brooks Lee.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
The collapsing dad then inadvertently knocks the boy out of his wheelchair.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Both saber makers offer models suitable for children, which are largely, if not entirely, made of plastic, so they are designed to withstand a few knocks and bumps without causing too much damage.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Alvarez had three knocks, including an RBI double to open the scoring.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocks
Verb
-
When the Great Depression hits, these estates become the targets of an ideological clash.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Emmy winner voiced a role in DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys 2 and will soon be seen starring alongside comedian Nate Bargatze in his TriStar Pictures comedy The Breadwinner, which hits theaters on March 13.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Delta blames a global IT outage last summer for its performance problems.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The man who unleashed a mob on the Capitol, and said Liz Cheney should face nine barrels shooting at her for supporting his opponent, blames the radical left for their rhetoric.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The blows come from front, back, and the demonstrator doesn’t seem to hold back even.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Frazier, though, was relentless, seeking a way inside Ali’s reach, driving blows into Ali’s ribs but moving too fast to get caught by the night-ender Ali had planned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But since June 13th—also the date when the Mets’ major misfortunes began—the Yankees have had a losing record, and have tumbled out of first place.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
-
But as much as Nashville artists love to dissect their misfortunes in song, Monroe has gone in almost the opposite direction with her latest project.—
Nancy Kruh,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Now the Braves will be left to regroup this winter after several injury setbacks for their star players.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
After more than 20 years of setbacks, Union Pacific Park in Fullerton is in the final stages of a complete overhaul and should be back open to the public by the end of the year.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The steep new parking surcharge slams the brakes on that, hitting both visitors and the workers who would have served them.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Except Steven gets in a car wreck in episode two of season three, and trauma slams Belly and Jeremiah back together.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, Ted slaps him in the face, twice.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Anthony thinks his fiancé wants a mother more than a partner, so Giuseppe slaps a pie into his face?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If your boss criticizes your work, do not argue or retreat.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
What the president is trying to do here is very systemic and systematic, and that is, anyone who stands up to the president, anyone who criticizes the president, anyone who says anything adverse to the president's interests gets the full weight of the federal government brought down on them.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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