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
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 Apr. 2026
A lot of the low end on the production really knocks, too.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The operator takes another swing, but the man ducks, punches the operator, then knocks him down, raining punches on his head before a bystander separates the two.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Slim Shady, her roughly 70-pound, 22-year-old sulcata tortoise, farts loudly, sometimes knocks her down and has forced her to find him after absconding in her North Highlands neighborhood when her front gate was left open.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s packed with anti-theft features Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
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
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
Verb
Victor Caratini, whose two-run single in the first inning gave the Twins some breathing room, hit a sacrifice fly earlier in the game and both Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis had RBI knocks for the Twins in the win.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 Apr. 2026
A lot of the low end on the production really knocks, too.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The operator takes another swing, but the man ducks, punches the operator, then knocks him down, raining punches on his head before a bystander separates the two.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Slim Shady, her roughly 70-pound, 22-year-old sulcata tortoise, farts loudly, sometimes knocks her down and has forced her to find him after absconding in her North Highlands neighborhood when her front gate was left open.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
It’s packed with anti-theft features Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
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
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
-
Brett Baty will get the bulk of his playing time, especially since the utilityman also hits left-handed.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Up next, she's set to star in the romantic comedy Office Romance opposite Brett Goldstein, which hits Netflix in June 2026.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This has actually been a plot point of The Pitt’s second season, with a cyber-hack forcing the hospital to temporarily bring back hospital clerk Monica, who blames her layoff on the hospital overly digitizing.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The Florida Justice Association — the trial lawyer lobby — spent millions to stop the reforms Maxwell now blames for failing consumers.—
David Wilson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ukraine’s constant innovation in drone technology is giving its military an edge on the battlefield, dealing major blows to Russia’s army and economy.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Israel and Lebanon are currently scheduled to engage in direct talks in Washington on Tuesday as Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade blows.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our own editors have run the gamut of unexpected setbacks abroad, including getting mugged and pickpocketed, as well as having their passports stolen.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
To combat such setbacks, the Vacaville Islamic Center would probably have to pursue a federal lawsuit — a daunting prospect for an immigrant-heavy congregation with limited resources.—
Connor Letourneau,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On stage, Cameron Winter leads an overall enthralling performance, as the group slams out songs back-to-back with little to say in between; no shenanigans, just a top-notch show.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
When Daisy slams the bedroom door in frustration, June can’t help but smile at the cliched rebellion.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
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The music also slaps, synthesizing industrial, electro-pop and iPod party music into a work that feels honest and the right kind of raunchy.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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