1
as in stops
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
knock it off!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abandons
to stop doing (something) permanently
decided it was time to knock off telling fantastic fibs about her family background
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subtracts
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
a proposal to knock 10 cents off the gasoline tax
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in robs
to remove valuables from (a place) unlawfully
Bonnie and Clyde coped with the Great Depression by knocking off banks
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in murders
to put to death deliberately
various assassins have tried to knock off the dictator over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocks off
Now my son toddles up to the bookshelf and casually knocks off Corduroy, The Cat in the Hat, This Pigeon Needs a Bath, Baby Beluga.
—
Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
If Texas basketball knocks off defending national champion Florida Wednesday at Moody Center, should that guarantee the Longhorns a spot in the NCAA Tournament?
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
However, the Rangers erased the Yankees’ three-run lead in the bottom of the second, as former pinstriped prospects Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran — traded for Joey Gallo in 2021 — had RBI knocks off Max Fried, with the latter tying the game.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
If Texas basketball knocks off defending national champion Florida Wednesday at Moody Center, should that guarantee the Longhorns a spot in the NCAA Tournament?
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
However, the Rangers erased the Yankees’ three-run lead in the bottom of the second, as former pinstriped prospects Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran — traded for Joey Gallo in 2021 — had RBI knocks off Max Fried, with the latter tying the game.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocks off
Verb
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Much of physicists’ intuition stops being helpful in an expanding universe.—
Shalma Wegsman,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The run hits major arenas including Chase Center in San Francisco, United Center in Chicago, TD Garden in Boston and stops across Canada, before closing out at the band’s home turf.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Frates and some other Miamians want the YMCA of Greater Miami to take over the building and put in athletic facilities after the library abandons the building.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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Per a synopsis shared with IndieWire, the series tells the story of María José Cano (Dávila), a woman using a wheelchair after an accident, who abandons the love of her life (García Bernal) at the altar.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Left fielder Mark Collins robs Galloway of a hit with a diving catch.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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And such a misapplication cheapens it and robs it of its spiritual beauty and impact.—
James Coffin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Geillis, on her quest to install Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne, murders her husband as a blood sacrifice and walks through the stones.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Her unscrupulous, power-hungry uncle Claudius (Kôji Yakusho) murders his own brother to become king.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The move will allow TSA employees to get their paychecks as early as March 30 instead of waiting for back pay after the shutdown ends.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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Loose ends and compelling payoffs await after a subdued and slow-ish first frame that struggles with a balance between dark brooding and uneven lull.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … MEDIA ARSENAL ALERT — Michigan Democrat quits politics, says party agenda betrayed her faith.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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That’s a refreshingly honest reason for calling it quits, and an understandable one.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Players had been negotiating for a percentage of overall revenue without factoring in expenses while the WNBA was seeking sharing tied to net revenue, mirroring the NBA’s structure that deducts expenses before sharing 50% of profits.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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The company deducts the tax preparation fee from your refund before depositing the remaining balance into your account.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That assassinates Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking retaliatory attacks by Iran across the Middle East.—
Jill Lawrence,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Soleimani assassination | Trump orders a drone strike in Iraq that assassinates Qasem Soleimani, an influential Iranian military commander.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks%20off. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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