as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
delivered a hard right hook that struck his opponent in the eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in bends
to cause to turn away from a straight line
the pitcher hooked the ball, and the batter missed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in connects
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole
hooked up three short chains together to make a longer necklace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in steals
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
the monkey hooked four bananas from the basket and scampered away to enjoy them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grabs
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
I hooked the biggest fish of the day, and then released it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in curves
to turn away from a straight line or course
hang the bird feeder on a branch that hooks upward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hooks
Sam McDowell May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Its model combines viewer payment with Google TV and Google Play distribution—a hybrid of app-style monetization and platform-style discovery, betting that vertical drama can move upmarket without losing the hooks that made the category work.
—Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
To keep a tidy cabin and create extra storage for yourself, pack magnetic hooks in your luggage (away from your electronics).
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
Among the stacks of beef boxes and red meat cuts hanging from metal hooks, chicken and pork are increasingly present.
—Clara Preve, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Optimize the wall space by placing belts and bags on sturdy hooks.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
Holley uses line in the 25-pound range, filament that enables him to muscle fish out of the thick stuff and bend his hooks free of hangups without losing the terminal tackle.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
The hooks or rings are in some ways worse than the curtain itself, because no one ever thinks to clean them.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Fasten zippers and hooks before tossing clothes in the wash cycle.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 May 2026
Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, questioned Mosseri on Wednesday about whether Instagram chooses profits over the health and safety of minors and whether Mosseri oversees an app that hooks younger users.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
The cat who reaches through the kennel bars and hooks a paw around your finger.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
Aussie newcomer Yerin Ha is the juggernaut's new leading lady—a strong yet soft pragmatist whose quiet charisma hooks Benedict, the ton, and, soon enough, audiences everywhere.
—InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
Start with your transformation story that hooks from line one.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Unable to deal with Max any longer, Nathan asks Joe to send Max down and hooks the Jet Ski to the crane himself.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Noun
If teams implemented quick hooks, a 162-game season would be defined by its knee-jerk reactions.
—Sam McDowell May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Its model combines viewer payment with Google TV and Google Play distribution—a hybrid of app-style monetization and platform-style discovery, betting that vertical drama can move upmarket without losing the hooks that made the category work.
—Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
To keep a tidy cabin and create extra storage for yourself, pack magnetic hooks in your luggage (away from your electronics).
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
Among the stacks of beef boxes and red meat cuts hanging from metal hooks, chicken and pork are increasingly present.
—Clara Preve, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Optimize the wall space by placing belts and bags on sturdy hooks.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
Holley uses line in the 25-pound range, filament that enables him to muscle fish out of the thick stuff and bend his hooks free of hangups without losing the terminal tackle.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
The hooks or rings are in some ways worse than the curtain itself, because no one ever thinks to clean them.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Fasten zippers and hooks before tossing clothes in the wash cycle.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
Verb
Marketing experts say while more and more cash is flowing into the clip-ification of all things, those watching the content can view clips as cheap and disposable moments, not something that hooks someone on a show or internet personality.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 May 2026
Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, questioned Mosseri on Wednesday about whether Instagram chooses profits over the health and safety of minors and whether Mosseri oversees an app that hooks younger users.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
The cat who reaches through the kennel bars and hooks a paw around your finger.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
Aussie newcomer Yerin Ha is the juggernaut's new leading lady—a strong yet soft pragmatist whose quiet charisma hooks Benedict, the ton, and, soon enough, audiences everywhere.
—InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
Start with your transformation story that hooks from line one.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Unable to deal with Max any longer, Nathan asks Joe to send Max down and hooks the Jet Ski to the crane himself.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
This compact device hooks onto your keychain or purse, and in the event of an emergency, simply pull the plug to activate a blaring alarm and strobe light duo.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hooks
Noun
-
In the lightweight division, Salahdine Parnasse (23-2) defeated Kenneth Cross (17-5) in the first round after landing a flurry of punches and dominating him early.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
-
There were more hugs after the fight between the two than punches landed, and, in total, far more time clocked during those hugs than the fight itself.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
From here, the route bends toward Athlone — a perfect excuse to step into Sean’s Bar, the world’s oldest pub, for a quick pint and a look at its 9th-century wattle‑and‑wicker walls.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
-
Most prominently was Hugh Hayden’s permanent new sculpture, a functioning chapel that ingeniously bends at an acute angle.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The island's sole town is a lively port with shops, bars, and restaurants, while a short bridge connects it to Caprera, home to Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi's former residence and pristine beaches.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
-
In addition to the formal dining room, a second, slightly more relaxed dining area connects to the chef’s kitchen, while a separate dirty kitchen is tucked out of sight.—
David Caraccio
May 16,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Some believe Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird because the eagle steals food from other birds, but Kochersperger said that’s a myth.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Next, Beth grabs her father's hat, perched on a stand next to the photograph.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
So, pay attention to what grabs your attention now, because the cosmos could be delivering a message through the most random interaction, TikTok scroll or overheard conversation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The dials are all adorned with a railway minute track that curves around every petal to accentuate the flower’s form.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
-
The Page style has a narrow slingback strap, a slim stiletto heel and an open front that curves into a small, petal-like peep-toe rather than a sharp cutout.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The system, called WhaleSpotter, scans the bay around the clock for whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, alerting mariners to slow down or reroute when whales are nearby.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
-
While the killing dealt one of the biggest blows to ISIS’s global network in years, disrupting operations in northeastern Nigeria, the terror group's top leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains at large as Africa becomes the movement's global epicenter.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The protective netting that arches over so many of the roads in the eastern Donbas region – stopping drones in their tracks – is not your friend here, but a limitation on movement.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
According to Archer Western, HDR’s design engineers failed to properly account for wind loads — including hurricane winds — in an initial, partial design for the signature bridge arches that the contractor used to calculate construction costs and time for its bid.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hooks. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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