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
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
In another, a woman knocks the MAGA cap off of the one provocateur’s head.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Johanna pulls off her mother’s jacket, knocks her to the ground, and pushes up her sleeve to uncover the scars of her mother’s long-ago suicide attempt.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Her child’s classmates now discuss what to do if ICE knocks on their door.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026
Before the Michigan game, the main knocks against Fears were his penchant for trash talk on the court and his ability to pester opponents and draw fouls on them.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Opportunity knocks on software stocks, including Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW), which all got slammed in Thursday's trading amid pressure on the software sector ETF (IGV) from artificial intelligence (AI) disruption concerns.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
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
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
In another, a woman knocks the MAGA cap off of the one provocateur’s head.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Johanna pulls off her mother’s jacket, knocks her to the ground, and pushes up her sleeve to uncover the scars of her mother’s long-ago suicide attempt.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Her child’s classmates now discuss what to do if ICE knocks on their door.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026
Before the Michigan game, the main knocks against Fears were his penchant for trash talk on the court and his ability to pester opponents and draw fouls on them.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Opportunity knocks on software stocks, including Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW), which all got slammed in Thursday's trading amid pressure on the software sector ETF (IGV) from artificial intelligence (AI) disruption concerns.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
-
Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score hits the right notes in a tricky assignment that creates a feeling of punk without actually being that.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For his plight, Corby blames a female co-worker who was hired three years after him but was regularly given better assignments.—
Eric Magnuson,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Horvath blames educational technology (EdTech) for these atrophying skillsets, arguing that at the turn of the 21th century and through its first decade and a half, tech companies and advocates pushed a false narrative that the education system was broken, but computers could fix it.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her tenure was marked by downward-trending stock prices and a series of blows to the company’s image.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Starmer’s Labour government seems bent on inflicting even harsher blows very soon.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But there’s a network of people looking to cash in on others’ misfortunes by renting out aging RVs to those searching for housing without a lease or tenant protections.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Once these people are already profiting off their own peccadillos and escalating misfortunes, why shouldn’t HBO?—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Apollo and other private equity firms are facing a variety of setbacks as of late, including declining returns, longer holding periods and investment exit concerns against a challenging backdrop for fundraising.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The 12-day barrage came on the back of a series of setbacks for Iran’s leaders, including the crippling of its regional allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The incident comes as a powerful winter storm slams California, dumping heavy snow and bringing high winds across the Sierra Nevada.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Winter storm slams the East While Arizona's system is mostly a light-rain and mountain-snow setup, a sprawling winter storm is creating far bigger problems across the eastern half of the country.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Is this violence different from the time in her childhood when Irene slaps her?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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