1
as in stops
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
knock it off!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
The legislation also stops courts from considering religious codes, including Islamic Sharia law, in legal cases.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The fun on 404 Day stops with Atlanta United.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The group quickly abandons the car, leaving the infant alone with at least one of the car doors open for an hour.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The calculation also subtracts income from Roth conversions and retirement plan rollovers.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After seeing the financial circumstances of his community members, Sinise's character enters a bank — where Wilson is the guard — and robs it for cash.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Left fielder Mark Collins robs Galloway of a hit with a diving catch.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
In 1971, a jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Willy drives it onstage through a giant door at the start and ends his life therein.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Because the tournament is built around ritual and tradition, Marty Smith always starts and ends his Masters the same way.—
Rick Maese,
Washington Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So this little bit of mobile history was not destroyed, and the teardown gives us a good look at how LG was hoping to attract new customers before calling it quits.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Claire Foy stars as Polly, an electronic engineer who quits her job rather than work on a smart fridge that gathers data on its owners.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Knocks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocks%20off. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
