KNOTS Synonyms: 231 Similar and Opposite Words

knots 1 of 2

noun

Definition of knots next

plural of knot

as in clusters

a number of things considered as a unit from the summit we could see knots of houses up and down the river valley

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as in swellings

a small rounded mass of swollen tissue felt a small knot on the back of his head

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as in links

a uniting or binding force or influence their business partnership is strengthened by the knot of personal friendship

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as in groupings

a usually small number of persons considered as a unit knots of people were quietly chatting around the meeting hall

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as in problems

something that requires thought and skill for resolution the situation involved so many legal knots that we decided to get a lawyer

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knots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of knot

as in tangles

to twist together into a usually confused mass the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together

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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 knots

Noun

The vessel can travel faster than 45 knots while carrying up to 10,000 pounds, including fuel and mission equipment. —

Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026 Arguably, though, neither outcome fully ties up one of the underlying knots the trial surfaced. —

Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 There will be gale-force gusts at about 35-45 knots across most of the waters along Southern California's coastal communities. —

Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 15 May 2026 Non-pizza crowd-favorite menu items like the garlic knots, wings and cannolis for dessert will be available as well. —

Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026 Caught in the web’s knots are pages of diaries from Japanese soldiers and German citizens during World War II. —

Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 14 May 2026 Brilliant knots of newborn stars, dark rivers of dust and glowing cavities carved by stellar winds combine to create a vivid portrait of galaxies in constant motion. —

Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 11 May 2026 As for performance, Orion One is powered by twin Caterpillar engines that give it a cruising speed of 12 knots, a top speed of 15 knots, and a range of 1,500 nautical miles. —

Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 May 2026 According to the Aviation Herald, pilots aborted takeoff when the aircraft was traveling at 120 knots, or nearly 140 mph. —

Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026

Verb

No matter how many knots a lawyer ties themselves in to get there, legality is not legitimacy. —

Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025 Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale. —

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knots

Noun

This fast-growing shrub got its name from the shape of its colorful flowers, which grow as dense spikes or round clusters in red, pink, yellow, or white that attract hummingbirds.

— Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Spread to Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, and Uganda plus clusters of unexplained deaths suggest a far larger outbreak than reported and raise fresh alarms over funding, supplies and regional preparedness.

— Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026