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
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
In the event Borges knocks it out of the park and a high-profile team in Europe comes calling for him, Sporting KC may convert 95% of the sale proceeds into GAM; that would held KC continue strengthening its roster.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
In moments, the unmanned aircraft knocks him down.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Opportunity knocks, though, as Virginia Tech hits the road going for a sweep of archrival Virginia on Saturday.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
These are not knocks on Miami of Ohio.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Opportunity knocks when an aspiring video game designer (Myles Erlick) is given a time-stopping device by his friend (Sean Astin), the eccentric owner of a toy store.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
But then, during the challenge, when Ozzy knocks the key off a post, Coach weasels in and grabs it even after Ozzy has been slapping his limp pole at it for the better part of an hour.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Dec. 2025
Nobody expected a year ago that the India-US economic relationship will take so many knocks—of which the HIRE Bill is another reflection.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
Kinda knocks your to-do list down a few pegs, no?
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
In the event Borges knocks it out of the park and a high-profile team in Europe comes calling for him, Sporting KC may convert 95% of the sale proceeds into GAM; that would held KC continue strengthening its roster.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
In moments, the unmanned aircraft knocks him down.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Dean Puckett, United Kingdom, 2025 A single mother and her child are put through a nightmarish ordeal when a politician knocks on their door.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Opportunity knocks, though, as Virginia Tech hits the road going for a sweep of archrival Virginia on Saturday.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
These are not knocks on Miami of Ohio.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Opportunity knocks when an aspiring video game designer (Myles Erlick) is given a time-stopping device by his friend (Sean Astin), the eccentric owner of a toy store.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
But then, during the challenge, when Ozzy knocks the key off a post, Coach weasels in and grabs it even after Ozzy has been slapping his limp pole at it for the better part of an hour.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
In his teens and early 20s, a variety of knocks and muscle strains — plus a variety of coaches with fluctuating opinions of him — complicated his development.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Dec. 2025
Nobody expected a year ago that the India-US economic relationship will take so many knocks—of which the HIRE Bill is another reflection.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
The closure of Forever Young hits as vanishing federal aid and runaway Medicaid costs threaten an ambitious new initiative to expand affordable child care.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
-
For something a little less massive, this 12% price drop on the Legion 5i from Lenovo hits the spot.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each nation blames the other for starting the fighting that flared in July and December.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The historian blames lil T’s shift from team player to lone wolf.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leftist candidate wins Paris mayoral race The French left won the Paris mayor’s race, one of a number of blows to far-right and center-right challengers in nationwide municipal polls.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
What mattered more than his terseness was that Norris was allowed to land a few meaningful blows against the usually untouchable Lee, who stars as Tang Lung, a fighter summoned to defend a restaurant owner menaced by a crime boss.—
Chris Klimek,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How does falling victim to one of the most notoriously unlikely of all misfortunes reorient your sense of chance, of fate?—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
This is but the first in a series of escalating misfortunes.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When psychological care is integrated alongside medical and physical treatment, athletes are often better prepared not only to return to sport, but to prevent and manage future setbacks more effectively.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In her experience, sustainable consistency is built through adaptability and learning to recover from setbacks rather than viewing them as failures.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the first season, Ronald meets James Marsden and immediately slams one of his films.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
-
One month into the partial government shutdown, hundreds of Transportation Security Administration workers going without full pay have quit, while others have taken unscheduled time off, prompting more travel headaches as a winter storm slams the Midwest and spring break travelers try to fly.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Think Nvidia’s new feature that slaps an AI filter onto your favorite games looks like garbage?—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Nahill is even featured in a video, indulgently attempting to snack on a donut, before Tyson, now a de facto spokesperson for HHS’ healthy foods initiatives, slaps it out of his hand.—
Chelsea Cirruzzo,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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